At DCPS’ Noyes Elementary School, Ariel Horton serves students and colleagues alike as assistant principal and math coach. Before assuming her current roles in June 2024, Horton spent more than a decade at Noyes as a kindergarten math and science teacher and math coach. A self-proclaimed “teacher’s teacher,” Horton works alongside her colleagues to develop and model effective instructional strategies, analyze data, and coordinate the academic supports students need to reach their full potential.
As a valued member of the Academic Leadership Team, Horton has been integral to the development of Noyes’ Comprehensive School Plan (CSP) and to monitoring progress toward accomplishing its goals. The plan outlines key goals, the priority behind each goal, and specific action steps to make them a reality. As Noyes’ math coach, Horton leads weekly, collaborative professional development meetings and plans classroom lessons based on thorough review of data and student work. She complements the meetings with teacher observations, actionable feedback and modeling to ensure effective transfer of the learning to the classroom. She also serves on the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) team to address specific areas of need, and is K-2 math facilitator at DCPS’ professional development days throughout the school year and during the summer.
In addition to her constant presence in classrooms, Horton – who has been PTO president for the past two years – has organized spirited events involving students and families. These include curating “Trunk or Treat,” attracting more than 80 people; recruiting parents to volunteer for school activities such as Picture Day and school dances; working as a math expert on the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to plan the Haunted Math House during Fall Festival; and developing a parent wellness session.
Horton’s good deeds are demonstrated by her dedication to community service and to building students as productive, young citizens. She partnered with the Girl Scouts to bring the first Brownie/Daisy troop to Noyes, worked with local organizations to have a supply of detergent for washing students’ clothes, and held school fundraising activities to stock the food pantry. Horton also partners with organizations, such as Purpose for Life, Inc., and District Motherhued, to secure STEM-based toys for students through an annual Christmas toy drive.
A two-time graduate of Howard University, Horton earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2011 and her Master of Arts in education in 2012.
Press Release: Washington, D.C., Educator Receives the Surprise of a Lifetime: a $25,000 Milken Educator Award!
