Evelyn Abernethy, fourth- and fifth-grade English teacher at Longfellow Elementary School in Pasco, helps her many Spanish-speaking students through a vital step in their transition into the mainstream classroom. Using a strategy called On Level Reading, Mrs. Abernethy raises performance expectations, which have resulted in higher scores on state reading tests. She also conducts monthly Parent-Student Math Nights to reinforce student learning by increasing parents' understanding of what is being taught. Her "Growing through Gardening" program, in which students plant produce in a small garden, teaches them about nature while encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Mrs. Abernethy is the district trainer on a variety of teaching strategies.
1982 Central Washington University, B.A.
