Ronelle Robinson, third-grade mentor teacher under the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)™, has fostered sustained academic growth among students and promoted a culture of collaboration and teamwork among teachers at Daniel R. Cameron Elementary School in Chicago. Believing that all students are capable of success, Robinson not only helps traditionally underperforming students rise to high expectations, but challenges students in the "academic middle" to reach new levels of achievement while nurturing high achievers toward continued growth. She is consistently at the forefront of identifying strengths and weaknesses in Cameron's educational reform plan, brainstorming possible solutions, spearheading and assisting colleagues in implementation, and troubleshooting and refining plans and strategies. A member of the TAP Leadership Team, Robinson leads weekly TAP cluster meetings, models effective strategies for colleagues and helps her third-grade team analyze assessment data to make instructional decisions. She adapted the district's GOLDEN Teacher Mentoring Program to provide new teachers with a supportive learning community and served as Lead Mentor for five years. Robinson's students have consistently made substantial gains in reading achievement, with many rising by as many as two reading grade levels in a single year. She frequently reaches out to parents, giving them materials to use with their children at home. Parents frequently ask to enroll their children in her class, and students routinely leave her classroom as engaged, successful students who enjoy learning.
1989 Iowa State University, B.S.
