Respond to the questions below. Be sure to include evidence when required.
1. How do you know that your students are successful in your content area specialty as a result
of your instruction? Include evidence, such as data, stories, or anecdotes, to support your
response. Do not exceed 500 words.
My students succeed because I believe in educating their individualized academic needs. Each
student in my classroom has strengths and struggles. I am responsible for creating a positive
and safe environment where students can work on their areas of struggle while celebrating their
strengths. Following Tennessee’s State Standards, I develop achievable goals for students and
create a pathway to achieve those goals. Students respond positively because, through
individualized instruction, they achieve gains to build inner confidence. This will fuel them for the
next challenge, academic or otherwise. My students excel and achieve admirable growth on the
end-of-year TCAP exams. As a result, I have maintained a 5 on the Level of Overall
Effectiveness (LOE) in Tennessee.
After years of teaching for Chicago Publis Schools in one of the most impoverished
communities in the country, I moved to Tennessee because I wanted my daughter to participate
in a traditional high school experience. I was fortunate to have landed at Brentwood High
School, and my daughter enjoyed a storybook high school experience. When I got to Brentwood
High School, I saw not an absence of disparity; it was the manifestation of disparity. The gap
was more significant than I imagined, and I understood my purpose: to help bridge this gap and
provide equitable services to students in underperforming schools.
The ACT is a high-stakes test most students must take before leaving high school. I have
taught in both low-income and affluent school districts. During this time, I have determined the
best support I can provide a student is through ACT preparation. The results of this test will
dictate acceptance into universities and determine academic scholarships. With my professional
and individualized support, some students have realized gains of up to ten points! While all
students' gains differ, one thing remains the same: All students improve.
Some parents have the privilege of hiring professionals for test prep. Even though it may be
costly, the return on investment makes it worthwhile. Some students need more resources to
hire quality ACT tutors. To bridge this gap and provide equity of services, I have created Boost
ACT Academy. Boost ACT Academy works with local non-profit organizations to provide
individualized ACT preparation to students who desire to increase their scores. Since 2020,
Boost ACT Academy, in partnership with the Education Foundation of Williamson County, has
raised $100,000 in Boost scholarships. As a result of Boost ACT Academy, Boost students have
received over $600,000 in scholarships. Our donors yield a 6 to 1 return on their investment for
students in the community.