In Patricia Castillo's fourth-grade class at Rio Grande Elementary School in Belen, students engage in stimulating activity-based learning that is well-monitored with clearly defined outcomes and assessments. She developed a classroom stock market that earned national recognition and helps her students conduct research using a variety of sources: newspapers, literature, videos and the Internet. Mrs. Castillo's spirit of volunteerism has led to student projects such as cleaning up a local river and sending relief packages to Bosnia. As the school's technology liaison, she has trained fellow teachers in the use of technology. Mrs. Castillo is an accomplished grant writer whose grants have led to dramatic improvements in student achievement.
1975 Western New Mexico University, B.A.
