Second-grade teacher Monica Chase has played an integral role in the academic success of her culturally diverse students at Park View Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Learning is active in Ms. Chase's classroom: she often turns lessons into games and takes students on meaningful and interesting field trips to coincide with lesson plans. She also consistently identifies students' strengths and weaknesses and redirects her teaching strategies accordingly. These strategies have led many students to achieve proficient and advanced ratings on the SAT-9 test and have helped the school make adequate yearly progress in reading and math. In addition to serving as grade-level chair, Ms. Chase has chaired groups ranging from the Local School Restructuring Team to the Awards, Black History and Spelling Bee Committees. As a young female educator, she has assisted fifth-grade girls in making the transition to middle school by educating them on issues ranging from nutrition to making good choices in life. Many would agree that having Ms. Chase as a teacher is a very good choice to begin with.
