Presenting her third- and fourth-grade students with a wealth of inventive opportunities to expand their educational horizons, Kristina Blair is a dynamic teacher who puts the “fun” in fundamentals at Franklin Elementary in Massillon, OH. Blair designs innovative interdisciplinary units that bring learning to life. She has been able—through her own fundraising efforts—to take her students to places that they might not otherwise see. Activities have included tailgate parties, after-testing community festivals, even field trips to places such as New York, Chicago and Williamsburg, Virginia.
Since 2005, 100 percent of her pupils have made benchmarks on math and reading state assessments. Adept at making all learning relevant, interesting and concrete, Blair is credited with helping her school move from “improvement” to “effective” status. She always applies best practices and actively involves parents in order to connect learning at home with learning at school. Professionally, she exhibits strong leadership skills at the school and district levels. A mentor to other teachers, she is a building-level instructional team leader and serves on the field trip committee. Blair also sits on various district-level committees and acted as interim gifted coordinator for three months during a transition period. She also helps guide literacy in the district and facilitates learning teams sponsored by the Ohio Department of Education. A committed lifelong learner, she attends many conferences to stay abreast of educational trends. Well-respected in her school, community and district, Blair remains committed to enhancing her expertise while enriching her students’ lives.
