Extraordinary Educators: Class of 2021
Extraordinary Educators
Join us in celebrating these Extraordinary Educators! Check out the information below to learn about these amazing educators and what they're doing to impact student learning.
What makes an Extraordinary Educator? Curriculum Associates Extraordinary Educators in the teacher program:
- Have taught for at least two years
- Have experience using i-Ready® and/or Ready® in their classrooms
- Illustrate growth and achievement via formal assessment(s)
- Demonstrate classroom innovation and engagement practices for students
- Are evangelists for high standards and student achievement
- Are champions of strong outcomes for all students
Curriculum Associates Extraordinary Educators in the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Collaborative:
- Are principals in their first through third years in the role
- Have experience using i-Ready and/or Ready
- Illustrate growth and achievement via formal assessment(s)
- Demonstrate schoolwide innovation and engagement practices for students
- Are evangelists for high standards and student achievement
- Are champions of strong outcomes for all students
Class of 2021
Brandi Adam, Instructional Coach/Teacher, Red Bank Elementary School, TN
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
motivated, fun, family
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
A student's education is one of the most valuable tools they will ever be given, so instructional decisions should not be based on what someone merely thinks or believes. Something as valuable as education should be based on FACTS that we KNOW, therefore the use of data to drive instruction is imperative to ensure a quality learning experience.
Mackenzie Adams, Teacher—Grade K, Glenwood Elementary School, WA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
welcoming, uplifting, teamwork
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data can show a teacher a multitude of learning, whether it is how individual students are progressing or how a whole class is performing. Breaking down data can show areas of growth and area of success.
Amanda Arevalo, Teacher, Discovery Elementary School, ID
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
loving, focused, dedicated
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Students need to be involved with their own data. When students can see where they're at, what they need to learn, and where they're going next, they are more likely to try and go above and beyond those goals than when they're given a worksheet with no concept of the "why" behind it.
Vonda Ashley, Math Teacher, Winterboro High School, AL
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
structured, task-oriented, collaborative
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data is an important tool in determining next steps for instructional planning and setting goals. Data chats, goal setting, and feedback help students take ownership of their data and monitor their progress.
Andrea L. Baney, Teacher—Grade 4, Liberty Valley Intermediate School, PA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
Empowering driven leaders
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction continuously takes place in my guided math classroom. I use PSSAs and i-Ready data to ensure my students are receiving instruction at their academic level by providing fluid small groups that meet each child's needs.
Anne E. Barbour, Teacher—Grade 3, Metcalf School, RI
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
exciting, busy, engaging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data drives the instruction in my classroom! My motto is called, "Analyze, strategize, act!" Using the data I collect from i-Ready helps me form RTI groups, gives me next steps for instruction when tutoring, and shows me how to push kids ahead on their learning path.
Courtney Barondeau, Teacher—Grade 4, Frontier Valley Elementary School, CO
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
positive, focused, encouraging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
i-Ready has made it easy for me to dig deep into my students' data and individualize instruction in a way I didn't know was possible before. Being able to meet my students where they are at and work with them to achieve their goals has made all the difference.
Shaia Belt, Teacher, Mary McLeod Bethune Day Academy PCS, DC
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
high energy, loving, competitive
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
My number one rule to learning is to know yourself. I share all my data with the scholars. As soon as they are finished with their growth checks, they are eager to hear and know their areas of growth. This motivates them to perform better on their weekly lessons and monthly growth checks.
Frinzetta Boman, Teacher, Leinkauf Elementary School, AL
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
innovative, nurturing, imaginative
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data is the starting point, not the end. Therefore, it will drive and guide my instruction.
Curriculum Associates Inspire Award
Elizabeth Neuendorff, Instructional Coach, Jacksonville, NC
Elizabeth was selected as an exemplar of the strong bonds with school-based visionaries who take i‑Ready to its highest heights in their work.
How did you take your work in the classroom and apply it to your district role?
I was the sixth grade math lead at HCMS in the 2019–2020 school year. While in this role, I led campus-level and district-level professional development in regards to mathematics instruction. In the 2020–2021 school year, I was given the opportunity to further my leadership role by becoming an Instructional Coach. While in this role, I have already led professional development and provided coaching cycles to teachers.
Ryan Booth, Math Teacher—Middle School, Agnes Stewart Middle School, OR
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
collaborative, challenging, community
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction focuses on teaching students what you want them to learn from where they are at currently. It's all about meeting the students where they are, and i‑Ready helps me assess that really quickly and efficiently.
April Bridges, Teacher—Grade 4, Pinnacle Classical Academy, NC
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
Believe you can!
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction is an invaluable tool in determining what can further enhance cognitive development of students. I am quite sure there are certain anomalies with data, but in the long haul, it has surely driven me the distance in all my years of studying data to drive my instruction.
Jamie Cooper, Reading Teacher, Singing River Academy, MS
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
patient, caring, understanding
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
I use i-Ready data to drive instruction. I will look at this data and determine my students' needs. The data provides me with an overview of what my students know at that time. I am able to pinpoint what they specifically need from there.
Emily Cortes, Math and Science Teacher—Grade 5, Oak Park Elementary School, FL
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
inclusive, whole-hearted, journey
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
My principal's motto is, "Everyone learns every day." Our students deserve instruction that is designed to meet their needs and will catapult them toward reaching their greatest potential. i-Ready is a tool that provides data specific to the individual with resources and solutions available to close achievement gaps.
Mariette Dargan, Teacher, Lamar-Milledge Elementary School, GA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
exciting, academically challenging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction helps me see where I need to apply more focus. For example, if my students are higher in phonics and low in comprehension, I will be able to apply more attention to comprehension.
Meagan Davis, Teacher, Park Place Middle School, WA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
engaging, collaborating, empowering
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Effective analysis of data must drive instruction and inform planning and assessment! Monitoring students' growth—Stretch Growth® has been particularly encouraging for my struggling readers!—and progress on Lesson Quizzes has allowed me to successfully intervene.
Michael DeRiggi, Teacher—Grade 5, North Dover Elementary School, NJ
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
Trust your mind.
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
It is pretty simple—the data i‑Ready provides makes small group and individual lessons more effective. The Prerequisite Lessons are also an effective tool.
Julie Dossantos, Teacher, Glendale Elementary School, FL
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
Practice makes progress!
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Our classroom motto is, "Practice makes progress." I apply that to all areas of my classroom, including providing data-driven instruction.
Joe Flick, Math Specialist, Brook Avenue School, NY
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
We learn together.
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
As an educator, even before data-driven instruction was all the buzz, I was and still am continuing to monitor output from my students—whether it be formative or summative—and let that guide where I need to go next. I am the navigator and my students are the drivers on the road to higher mathematics.
Marine Freibrun, Teacher—Grade 5, East Canyon Elementary School, ID
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
positive, community, relationships
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
I always try to plan with the end in mind. I look at what standards my students will be assessed on at the end of a unit, or even just one week of study, and ensure that they're prepared for the outcome. Data-driven instruction gives us as teachers the tools to monitor student progress and show a progression toward mastery while celebrating student success.
Melinda Geer, Teacher—Grade 3, Glenwood Elementary School, MI
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
engaging, safe, hardworking
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction leads to effective teaching, resulting in higher student achievement. When we are able to see what our students know and where the gaps are, then we can adjust our instruction to meet the students' needs.
Shalini Jayawardana, M.Ed., NBCT, Certified Teacher—Grade 3, Holbrook Language Academy, CA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
progress, connection, mastery
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Closing achievement gaps through the use of programs like i‑Ready involves tools that use research and data to improve my practice and celebrate accomplishments!
Jennifer Sharlene Kidd, Teacher—Grade 1, Straub Elementary School, KY
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
exciting, rigorous, family
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
A teacher must use formative, summative assessments to drive the instruction for the whole group and for each individual child. By using the data that is given from the i-Ready Assessment and Growth Monitoring, you teach exactly what it tells you each child needs. Success will happen.
Lindsey King, Teacher—Grade K, New Prospect Elementary School, GA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
loving, celebratory, growing
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Instruction must be driven by accurate and applicable data. Data from Common Formative Assessments, i‑Ready, and Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills are then used to create groups to reteach, support, and challenge students.
Eris Knott, Teacher, Woodley Elementary School, MS
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
cool, calm, collected
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
In order for me to know where to go, I need to look at my data map. My data map will lead me in the right direction for each child specifically.
Jason Lagpacan, Teacher, Pearl City Elementary School, HI
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
family, choosing love, resilient
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction: Data is black and white. Analyze the data, create your action plan, implement your action plan, assess your plan, review results, and repeat.
Krista Matrishon, Teacher—Grade 1, Hillcrest Elementary School, MA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
safe, fun, engaging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Using data to drive my instruction helps me home in on where students need the most help. It allows me to pinpoint their lessons and practice to move them along in their learning.
Trifon Perges, Special Education Teacher, Suitland Elementary School, MD
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
positively interactive, engaged classroom
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Collecting student data throughout the school year to understand how students are learning and what skills they have mastered allows me to cater to the individual needs of my kids and recognize skill and learning gaps that may exist.
Suzanne Pleskin, Teacher, Palmetto Elementary School, FL
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
safe, involved, accepting
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
When I use data to drive my decisions and plans, I am able to respond to problems more effectively, construct new teaching methods, and advance skill sets faster.
Tracie M. Porter, Teacher, Holden School, LA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
Mistakes cause learning.
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction is like a map. I tell my students when we do data talks that even though we start at different places (i.e., scores/levels) on the map, our goal is to move in the right direction to get where we are going. As a teacher, it shows me not only where the student starts but what needs to be focused on along the journey.
David Quintero, Teacher—Grade 4, Mary Chapa Academy, CA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
kind, compassionate, progressive
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Consistency, concern, conferencing, and intervention raise pride in achievement.
Felita R. Reed, Literacy Specialist, Central High School, AR
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
collaboration, respect, high expectations
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction allows educators to deliver tailored instruction with a laser focus designed to meet the diverse learning needs of our students. The instruction is tailor-made for each student.
Ronald Robertson, Teacher, J.H.S. 383 Philippa Schuyler, NY
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
engaging, welcoming, productive
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data drives instruction. I’ve used i-Ready to improve student growth after taking Diagnostic tests to ensure that students are logging in and working on the enrichment lessons or scaffolding lessons. Students are conferenced with regularly to monitor their growth and discuss next steps based on live data collected.
Ann McCall Salway, Teacher—Grade 3, Abner Creek Academy, SC
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
inviting, challenging, engaging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
"Data leads the way" is my motto. Based on information gathered from formative and summative data, I plan differentiated lessons geared toward those who need remediation and those who need enrichment.
Candace Leigh Sanders, Math and Science Teacher—Grade 6, Halls Elementary School, TN
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
focused, engaged, caring
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Through the use of data-driven instruction provided by i‑Ready components like the Diagnostic test, Lesson Quizzes, Unit Assessments, and Quick Checks, I am able to provide my students with effective instruction based on the needs of the students.
Ashley Powell Schneider, GT Teacher—Grade 5, Pritchardville Elementary School, SC
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
engaging, organized, differentiated
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
The strongest way to reach students and make the most growth is by using the data on individual students. Looking at i‑Ready and other data, I am able to have students grow from that point and work with them to have their instruction grow and stay engaged, as the material is right where they need it to be.
Tracy Senf, Teacher—Grade 2
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
safe, happy, differentiated
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction should provide a clear, goal-driven instructional path for each student. Data should also provide measurable instructional goals that i‑Ready provides when it pinpoints exactly what the child knows and what they need to learn. i‑Ready's groupings is perfect for providing focused instructional interventions.
Crystal Strong, Elementary Teacher, Andrea B. Williams Elementary School, GA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
positive, higher-learning, fun
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data drives instruction! Data from i‑Ready plays a huge part in how I differentiate and remediate my instruction. i‑Ready data breaks down learning targets for whole group and individualized instruction, which is very essential when you are developing lesson plans for whole group and small group instruction. If I don't have data, then I don't have growth/progress.
Paul Tarasevich, English Teacher, Martin Middle School, RI
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
positive, student-led, and focus on learning
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
i-Ready data gives us a checkpoint of how are our students are performing. Then we can plan instruction based on these results.
Megan Tegerdine, Special Education Teacher, Ackerman School, MO
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
leadership, community, voice
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
My motto for data-driven instruction is, "Without data, it won't matter." Data should be collected and used daily in order to inform our teaching practices and best support student learning.
Shane Twamley, Language Arts Teacher, Kraemer Middle School, CA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
rigorous, relevant, relational
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data-driven instruction gives my students solid, unbiased information that allows us to target their needs and goals together. i‑Ready data allows me to adjust and adapt their instruction so each individual can achieve their own personal capacity.
Wayne Ulrich, Teacher/Coach, Long Beach Middle School, MS
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
energetic, engaged, high expectations
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
We have a common set of expectations for all of our students. However, the data from benchmark assessments, Standards Mastery, and the students' ILP guide the instructional process in my classroom.
Maria Vollrath, Teacher—Grade 3, Vineyards Elementary School, FL
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
positive, motivating, engaging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
It is critical to analyze my students' performance to make instructional decisions and groupings in my classroom. I use the Teacher Toolbox and Tools for Instruction resources for interventions, and I implement goal-setting paired with a Data Wall to track our individual and team goals for our i‑Ready and Standards Mastery each week and throughout the year.
Bobbi Voss, Teacher—Grade 1, Miriam McCarthy School, MA
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
enthusiastic, engaging, encouraging
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
"First graders can do virtually anything!" Between the i‑Ready and Securly data points, I am able to confirm Time on Task, comprehension, and achievement. Additionally, I am able to communicate with the students and their adults—sharing their successes and areas of learning opportunities.
Sarah Zeller, Math and Science Teacher—Grade 5, Strong Foundations Charter School, NH
Describe your classroom culture in three words.
respectful, supportive, energized
How do you engage students with i‑Ready and/or Ready in your classroom?
Data is the basis for what I teach, when I teach it, and how I teach it. Every learner is different, and the more data points I can gather for each one of them, the better I am able to do my job as their teacher.