Extraordinary Educators: Class of 2025

Alyssa Smith, Grade 4 Teacher

Berne-Knox-Westerlo Elementary, NY

Describe your school culture in three words.
Collaborative, Inclusive, Safe

Amanda Gibson, Grade 3 Teacher

College Park Elementary, MS

Describe your school culture in three words.
Engaging, Supportive, Dynamic

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Having a data-driven classroom is one of the most important qualities of an effective classroom in today’s society. Teachers today have many resources and data points to help make responsible and effective planning decisions to help all of their students grow during the school year. 

Amanda Slauson, Teacher

Unity Elementary School, GA

Describe your school culture in three words.
I feel that our classroom culture is a very positive one. I try to teach routines and procedures so that my students are self-directed learners. We do lots of "shout-outs" where students are called out for academic and behavior excellence. We encourage each other and students feel accepted as part of our class family. 

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data is important to drive instruction. As a teacher, I have to know where my students are and where I need them to get to in order to show progress and be successful. I like the fact that i-Ready makes it easy for me to use data to help my students achieve their goals. 

Brooke Schmidt, Grade K Teacher

Drexel School, IL

Describe your school culture in three words.
Supportive, Inclusive, Engaged

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data informs and actions transforms. By using iReady data to understand individual student strengths and weaknesses, teachers can tailor instruction for optimal learning and continuous improvement.

Candice Cohen Hardee, Teacher

Aynor Middle School, SC

Describe your school culture in three words.
Collaborative, Engaging, Purposeful

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto for data-driven instruction is to move students to the potential they are capable of reaching. I look at the data and set goals for students based on their iReady diagnostic fall or historical diagnostic scores.

Dontavius Barkley, Teacher

Hollis Hand Elementary School, GA

Describe your school culture in three words.
Open Communication, Positive Relationships, Sense of Belonging. 

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
In my classroom, all of my lessons are data-driven based on my students' test scores. With the scores, I can be intentional about my instruction to better serve my students. Before each lesson, I have a conversation with my students about why we are learning each standard, how we are currently performing, and how we are to proceed. It gives my students ownership of their learning and how to improve. 

Emily Emery, Grade 4 Math and Science Teacher

Richfield Elementary School, NC

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inviting, Engaging, Orderly

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Collecting data and using data to drive instruction makes more sense than me assuming I know what a student knows and what their next steps are to grow. The i-Ready Diagnostics give me a lot of informative data to develop instructional groups, but I feel like i-Ready is also my co-teacher because students instantly begin working on their individual learning path to grow and succeed at a rate that suits them..

Holly Slay, Grade 3 Teacher

Quitman Upper Elementary School, MS

Describe your school culture in three words.
Energetic, Competitive, Family

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto on data-driven instruction is "Let the data lead the way," as it allows me to tailor my teaching strategies based on student performance insights from i-Ready. By analyzing the data, I can identify specific areas where students struggle and adjust my lessons to meet their individual needs effectively.

Jessica Sansoucie, Grade 3 Teacher

McRae Elementary, AR

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Supportive, Loving

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto on data-driven instruction is determine essential standards, teach, assess, analyze, draw conclusions, and take action.  I use data to drive the daily Tier 1 instruction in my classroom, as well as my Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction.  The i-Ready data helps me see individual student strengths and areas for growth.  This allows me to accomodate and modify lessons and interventions to effectively meet each student's specific needs.

Jon Olson, Teacher

Greenville Middle School, GA

Describe your school culture in three words.
Challenging, Goal-Driven, Growth-Oriented

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto on data-driven instruction is "Empower, adapt, and Show Growth." I use i-Ready along with State data to identify students' strengths and areas for growth, then tailor instruction and interventions to meet individual needs, ensuring that each student can progress and succeed.

Karen Osborn, Teacher

Florosa Elementary School, FL

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Focused, Successful

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
"We all grow at different rates!"  Effective and consistent use of i-Ready provides all students with the opportunity to accelerate their learning.

Kari Seashore, Elementary Math Development TOSA

Lake Oswego School District Central Office, OR

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Student-centered, Collaborative

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data-driven instruction should empower educators to make informed, targeted decisions that meet the diverse needs of their students. By analyzing and responding to data, teachers can adapt their strategies, personalize learning, and address gaps effectively. Using both formal and informal data in education is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of students' progress, strengths, and areas for improvement.  I have used i-Ready data to inform goals around our MTSS system and determine the needs of students in core and in small groups.  Using the prerequisite report with teachers has been very helpful when making instructional decisions.  

Katherine Lavine, Mathematics Teacher

The Expedition School, NC

Describe your school culture in three words.
High expectations, high support (I know that's four!)

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
i-Ready data is essential to our school's Multi-Tiered Systems of Support process at all levels as i-Ready is used as a universal screener to identify students for both math enrichment and math support. For our highest-achieving students, we use i-Ready as a part of our placement process for our middle school students who are placed into the Compacted 7/8 and then NC Math 1 track -- students may place into the accelerated math track either by their scores on the North Carolina End of Grade tests OR by their i-Ready Diagnostic scores. For our students scoring below grade level on their i-Ready Diagnostics, we have a robust math intervention program that works with students on math learning progressions designed to help students access the grade level content currently being taught in their math class and informed by their i-Ready data.

Kimberly Alexander, Grade 5 Teacher

Namaqua Elementary, CO

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Supportive, Engaging.

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto on data-driven instruction is "Informed teaching for intentional growth." I use i-Ready and other data sources to identify students’ strengths and areas for growth, allowing me to tailor my lessons, set meaningful goals, and provide targeted support that drives each student toward success.

Lauren Dooley, Grade 5 Math and Science Teacher

Davis Academy for Arts and Design Innovation Magnet School, CT

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Reflective, Creative

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Empowering every student through data-driven instruction, where insights from i-Ready and other assessments create personalized learning experiences for every learner. This commitment transforms assessment data into targeted instruction to ensure that each child’s needs are met, fosters growth and achievement in every lesson.

Maggie Linneer, Teacher

Tumbleweed, AZ

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive  Collaborative  Respectful  

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
"Informed by Data, Inspired by Students" is my motto. It is a balance between using data to guide instruction but keeping the focus on the needs and potential of every student.  

Marla Dunlow, Grade 4 Teacher

Chocowinity Primary School, NC

Describe your school culture in three words.
Driven, Responsible, Devoted

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
I love to study data! I use the data to determine who needs specific interventions. I also use data to drive my instruction. Much of this instruction is enhance with the lessons from the Teacher Toolbox. Data drives my instruction. 

Meghan Froman, Math Teacher

Delisle Elementary School, MS

Describe your school culture in three words.
Respectful, Supportive, Inclusive

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
“Guided by insights, growing through knowledge.” I utilize a combination of the data reports through iReady as well as the data that I receive through the weekly quizzes on Mastery Connect to better see mastery as we progress through the standards. I use this data to drive my whole group mini lessons (these are in conjunction with my weekly on schedule standards being taught through the Ready Math Lesson) as well as small group to help bridge gaps.

Melissa May, Teacher

Surf City Middle School, NC

Describe your school culture in three words.
I am enough!

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Knowing where to go is important, but understanding how you got there is essential.  Effective instruction requires using data to identify students' needs and guide their growth. 

Michelle Hampton, Middle School Special Education Teacher/RTI Interventionist

ROE 21, IL

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Safe, Supportive

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
I believe that my students' data, from i-Ready specifically, drives my planning and instruction.  By analyzing my students' data regularly, it helps me understand my students' strengths and weaknesses, but also helps me know how to support my students' learning.  

Natalie Banks, Grade 3 Teacher

Woodrow Wilson Elementary, KS

Describe your school culture in three words.
I work hard from the beginning of the year to build a classroom culture that is safe, welcoming, and fun.  I do this through class and team building activities, such as a daily morning meeting.  Relationship building between teacher and student and students to students is a main priority in my classroom.  When students build a relationship with their teacher and peers it makes them feel safe to make mistakes and learn at their level.  I value routines, structure, and procedures and the security these provide for all of my students.  My students know exactly what is expected at each moment of the school day, because I explicitly state these constantly.  Students are also knowledgeable about what the success criteria is and what they need to do to be successful for each lesson.    

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
I use the prerequisite reports before each unit to help create small groups for small group instruction.  I also have students create goals prior to taking the diagnostic to encourage student effort.  I use diagnostic growth reports to meet with students to set these goals.  

Nicolette Barone, Grade 5 Teacher

Oak Park Elementary School, FL

Describe your school culture in three words.
Empowering, Relational, Fun

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data driven instruction is one of the most pivotal pieces in my planning for my students especially teaching in a Title 1 school. I always use I-ready and grade level assessments to help me close gaps during my class period and then when I pull for tutoring to build a ladder between where students are and where I need them to be. 

Sarah Silvernail, Grade 6 Teacher

Schroon Lake Central School, NY

Describe your school culture in three words.
Dynamic, Empowering, Nurturing

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data-driven instruction is the solid foundation upon which we build personalized learning, ensuring every student can reach success. i-Ready is the essential component where data is harnessed from to create groupings and instructional plans to meet the needs of a particular class.

Shannon Allison, Grade 1 Teacher

Mead School, CT

Describe your school culture in three words.
Safe, Structured, Engaging

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
I like to be flexible when it comes to data-driven instruction -- meaning I am always ready to change a lesson or my teaching depending on data collected from assessments and student observations -- to meet the needs of my students. Although we are teaching the same concepts and standards, year after year, my lessons can look very different depending on the individual students I have and what skills they need. 

Sowmya Sugumaran, Grade 3 Teacher

Northview Elementary, KS

Describe your school culture in three words.
Inclusive, Collaborative, Supportive

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto on data-driven instruction is "Empower every learner through informed decisions." I utilize i-Ready data to identify individual student needs, track progress, and tailor interventions, ensuring that each student receives the targeted support necessary for their growth.

Taylor White Brown, Grade 5 English Language Arts Teacher

Simpson Central School, MS

Describe your school culture in three words.
Learn, Laugh, Love

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
The motto I live by is, "Data drives successful instruction." Data provides teachers with the material and next steps to ensure student achievement is met.

Toby Mitchell, Grade 4 General/Special Education Teacher

Ali'iolani Elementary School, HI

Describe your school culture in three words.
Engaging, Inclusive, Metacognitive

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data lets me, as an educator, know where a student is at and the necessary steps that I can take to drive growth and improvement.  I specifically use iReady data to celebrate student growth, but I also teach students how to understand what their data tells them about themselves so that they can set goals for themselves, increase their motivation, excellence, and ultimately put them in charge of their education/learning.

Tracey Fuller, Math Intervention Teacher

Chatham Middle School, NY

Describe your school culture in three words.
Mellow, Inviting, Accepting

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
Data drives all instruction in my room, being an intervention space. I also try to chat with the core math teachers to see where they are going in class so I can use pre-requisite reports to help give my students a leg up in both my class and the core math class.

Victoria Scheu, Teacher

Guardian Angels School, OH

Describe your school culture in three words.
Supportive, Engaging, Collaborative 

Describe your motto on data-driven instruction, and consider how you use i-Ready or other data.
My motto is that data-driven instruction should be considered in all ways of the classroom from education/learning to behavior. It can be used as tool to drive instruction to challenge the students excelling and catch up those facing challenges.