Ashley Thomas

I've dedicated 18 years to teaching, always driven by my love of helping people. I currently teach elementary science in a rotation system where I see all 78 students in our grade level. Throughout my career, I've taught multilingual learners who speak a multitude of languages, and my Spanish minor allows me to teach bilingually so Spanish-speaking students can learn in both their native language and English. I serve as chair of both our safety patrol and Science Olympiad programs, overseeing students from 3rd to 5th grade as they practice and build their events. I've also been part of important district initiatives, including helping get our autism program up and running and serving on data-driven committees where we analyze student data to identify and address problems before they worsen. I'm honored to be a finalist in my district for Teacher of the Year, which has involved meeting with community members and the Chamber of Commerce to explore how teaching can help the community and vice versa. I choose to teach in Title I schools because I believe in making connections with students who face challenges that adults don't always see, showing them that despite our differences, we're all the same people with the same opportunities in life. I'm able to achieve average and above-average test scores while helping students enjoy being children and see their future potential.