Rashinda Billie fosters a dynamic and engaging learning environment at Kirtland Elementary School where she currently teaches fifth grade. Billie, formerly a fourth grade teacher at Kirtland Elementary, is dedicated to her students and her community and it shows through her creative approach to education. The school, which serves a majority Navajo student population, is on the outskirts of the Navajo reservation. Billie, a member of the Navajo community herself, believes fun is the key to learning. Her classroom is a vibrant hub of energy, movement, conversation and discovery, where Billie actively seeks innovative ways to captivate her students. Creating experiences that inspire enthusiasm and curiosity, Billie’s approach is rooted in hands-on, manipulative learning, providing a strong foundation for her students while allowing them to build and expand on their skills. Activities like mystery science lessons and incorporating technology whenever possible enrich her curriculum and her students’ progress. Her methods regularly yield positive results, with her classes demonstrating significant growth in assessments, including high math performance.
A natural leader, Billie consistently demonstrates generosity and collaboration with her colleagues, sharing best practices, resources and innovative ideas. Never content with the status quo, she actively seeks opportunities for growth and improvement and has played a key role on several school committees, including the Reading Goal Team, the Math Goal Team, and leading the Professional Learning Committee. Additionally, she was selected to attend professional development sessions and share her learnings with colleagues to develop their collective expertise.
Billie’s positive influence and leadership extend beyond her classroom to the school and community as she serves as the math chair, grade-level lead teacher; assists with the school’s math night and fall festival; and coaches girls’ cross country and track at nearby Shiprock High School.
A graduate of Fort Lewis College, Billie earned her Bachelor of Arts in education in 2014 and her Master of Arts in cultural and linguistically diverse education in 2024.
Press Release: Kirtland Elementary Teacher Starts 2025 with Surprise $25,000 Milken Educator Award
