Despite being assigned to work with students who need significantly differentiated instruction, teacher Angela Deck has helped her fourth graders at Spring Ridge Elementary School in Omaha consistently score at exemplary levels on state assessments. An inclusionary teacher for the fourth grade, Ms. Deck teams with the resource teacher to focus instruction on the individual needs of resource students. She serves on the school's student assessment team (SAT), where struggling students are sent prior to placement in the special education program. Recognized as a key district leader for elementary curriculum renewal, school improvement and assessment development, Ms. Deck has worked at the state level with activities related to the statewide writing assessment and was a math and science coordinator in helping to develop the state's fourth-grade STARS (School-based Teacher-led Assessment Reporting System) assessment. She is a presenter for the federal No Child Left Behind review team, and has also presented at the Nebraska Department of Education Leadership for Classroom Assessment conference. An assessment of Ms. Deck's teaching has found her to be a first-rate educator.
