At Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Trenton, New Jersey—one of the district's four elementary bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) centers—third-grade teacher Kimberly Jacquay fosters a stimulating learning environment that integrates cooperative learning techniques, critical thinking skills and differentiated instruction. Expert at working with children from diverse cultural backgrounds and academic levels, Jacquay employs a student-centered, hands-on instructional approach that supports state standards through modeling, manipulation and independent practice. She uses learning centers to provide students with a wide range of multidisciplinary learning experiences and is an expert in the use of technology, including white boards, digital cameras, an online grade book and a Web site. In 2007, 94 percent of her students passed the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK), a 26 percent increase over the previous year. Thanks in part to these academic improvements, Wilson Elementary achieved Adequate Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind in 2007 for the first time in five years. Jacquay leads a Gifted and Talented Summer Program for the district that she designed, with multidisciplinary units aimed at teaching math and science through authentic projects. She spearheaded the creation of Wilson's Character Education program and is chair of the Character Education Committee. She is also chair of the third-grade team, co-chair of Wilson's English Language Learners Cadre and a member of numerous committees.
1999 Trenton State College, B.S.
