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Jaime Enochs is an educator with style and substance. As International Baccalaureate (IB) English department chair—the youngest in the department— at the School of International Studies in San Diego, CA, she has developed innovative ways to navigate students through the rigors of IB curriculum. From this blend of creativity and critical thinking emerged her section on Shakespeare's Hamlet, where Enochs created a "character meter" for her students to track Hamlet's anxiety level during each act. Her artistic skills are no secret, as she decorates her classroom with elaborate charts and décor she makes herself. She also fashioned pins for her IB English seniors-bees with large eyes to symbolize "IB"-to wear for confidence and solidarity during their rigorous IB testing. Her pin turned out to be a good luck charm. Almost 100 percent of her seniors went on to pass the California IB English language exam. The worldwide average is 60 percent.

This is just one of Enochs' many strides towards academic excellence. Almost 100 percent of ninth-grade students passed the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), and scores are far above state averages under Enochs' direction. The principal attributes these numbers to Enochs' staff preparations as the coordinator of the school-wide testing program. Enochs' leadership also triumphed in 2008, when she was the coordinator for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) committee. Under her leadership, the School of International Studies received the highest rating possible with a six-year accreditation. This was the first time a San Diego School had received this level of accreditation in nine years. Enochs is so dedicated to her students, she called her school's principal on the way to the hospital, ready to give birth to her first child, so that she could give her directions about the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) exams. Her unwavering commitment to the school's success is undeniable.