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Known to many educators and parents as "The Child Whisperer," Linda Alston is an award-winning educator with more than thirty-five years of leadership and teaching experience in urban, public schools. She is a respected veteran teacher, published author , keynote speaker and executive coach of school principals with a broad background in early education philosophies and best practices. With unyielding passion to ensure all children receive an excellent education filled with beauty and opportunity, Linda has developed The Alston Method, a specialized early education program designed to teach teachers how to help each student reach his/her potential. Linda has spent more than two decades teaching in “hard to serve” schools—with 80% of her student population impacted by poverty, qualifying for free and reduced lunch, with many learning English as their second language. Linda’s students have excelled under her personalized method of teaching, commonly graduating from kindergarten with a first grade or beyond reading level. Due to her proven success, Alston has served as Peer Observer/Teacher Evaluator for Leading Effective Academic Practice (LEAP) in Denver Public Schools and has guided principals as an education consultant in challenging, urban school districts. Recognized as a successful educator, Linda Alston is an adjunct professor, and is a published author. Her memoir, Why We Teach: Learning, Laughter, Love and the Power to Transform Lives (Scholastic Inc., 2008) showcases her remarkable style of teaching and indisputable positive results. In July 2015, Linda Alston was invited by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the ECET2 (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) Conference in Seattle, WA. She serves as Trainer for Culturally Responsive Teaching and specializes in Leveled Literacy Intervention LLI, Reading Recovery, and others. The Alston Method, Linda's unique, specialized, proven model of exceptional early education can be implemented in schools along with many curricula. Alston has received multiple awards, including the Colorado Black Roundtable Distinguished Teacher Award, 2010, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Beacon of Light/ Teacher of the Year, 2009, and the KIPP Foundation/Kinder $100,000.00 Excellence in Teaching Award. This “Best Teacher in the Country” recognition was a one-time-only highest unrestricted personal gift ever awarded a teacher in United States history. Recognized as one of Denver Colorado’s 150 People Who Make a Difference during Denver Colorado’s 150th Birthday, Linda Alston faithfully looks for opportunities to serve her community and lead in humanitarian efforts. Alston holds a Master of Arts Degree in Language, Literacy, Culture, and the Teaching of Reading for the Linguistically Diverse from the University of Colorado at Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies and Education from Howard University in Washington, DC. Linda lives and leads in Denver, CO. Please contact: Dr. Barbara Trenholme, Distinguished Board Chair at (303) 882-5590 for more information about The Alston Early Learning Model