The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect student success.
Teach Plus’s work is driven by the belief in the student opportunity mandate: All students should have the opportunity to achieve their potential in an education system defined by its commitment to equity, its responsiveness to individual needs, and its ability to prepare students for success in college, career, and in life after high school.
Forestridge Principal Michelle Gabriel said this program is having an impact on students.
“It is wonderful to see teacher leadership on display. These teachers have refined their presentation skills and used research to create and implement a solution to a problem of practice,” Gabriel said. “Teach Plus is truly an outstanding opportunity to develop teachers.”
Some of the things this year’s Teach Plus graduates focused on include improving teacher morale on campus, reconsidering ways to grade homework and tests, and figuring out best practices to get the youngest learners reading on grade level among other initiatives.
“This work is not underground and done in the margins,” said Angie Lee, RISD Executive Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “We want these teachers to know that the school district fully supports them and fully honors their commitment to finding solutions to problems on their campus. It is great to know that so many RISD teachers care enough about their craft to seek these kind of professional learning opportunities.”
Congratulations to these RISD teachers who successfully completed the one-year or two-year Teach Plus leadership fellowship program. #RISDBelieves
- Forestridge Elementary – Rachel Igboh
- Moss Haven Elementary – Jordyn Baker, Lara Carey and Amanda Knochenmus
- Richland Elementary – Beth Erschen and Kaelynn Foster
- Skyview Elementary – Connor Schmidt
- Thurgood Marshall Elementary – Sharonica Garrison, Mitchell Hodge, Tiffani Kennedy and Nitasha Walder
