When a teacher gives her all, her students have a greater opportunity to excel. Laurie Davies, a fourth-grade teacher at Pine Tree Elementary, is an example of how a teacher’s dedication can impact students and her school community.
Davies is affectionately known at her school as “The Data Queen” for her effective and consistent use of student data to improve instruction. As a result, in her mixed 1st/2nd grade classroom last year, 75-82% of her students achieve targets on reading and math assessments, and Davies’ students annually perform better than their peers on early grade evaluations. Davies piloted a Transactional Reading Strategies program to provide fundamental literacy strategies in the first 21 days of school, and its success resulted in her sharing the program with other teachers. Her ability to evaluate and meet the educational and developmental needs of all her students in a multi-grade classroom is exceptional.
One of several grants that Davies has been awarded was “Making History Alive.” An actor visited the classroom for a unique multi-disciplinary experience; then students created their own performances of “Historical Hoosiers of Note.” This creativity makes learning come alive for students in the essential primary grades and helps to prepare them for future success.
Davies regularly extends herself beyond the curriculum to meet students’ needs and create the best possible environment for learning. She co-developed Operation Family First, a parent program that offers parent classes and supports family life and student achievement. She chaperones annual trips to Space Camp and is active in her school’s Parent Teacher Organization and at Camp Give Back for at-risk students. Her balanced, calm demeanor allows her to build personal connections with students and parents and makes her a popular leader among her colleagues.
On her campus and in her district, Davies routinely offers professional development for teaching staff. She is always learning, and is always willing to share her knowledge and experience with others, making her a model of teaching excellence in action.
