In addition to traditional desks and chairs, Tiffany Lemos’ third grade classroom at Chubbuck Elementary in Chubbuck, Idaho, has a variety of flexible seating options, including wobble chairs, balance balls, cushions and risers. Lemos, who takes a personal interest in the success of every student, raised the funds for alternative seating through a DonorsChoose campaign and local banks to help her young learners work in ways that meet their individual needs and promote movement in the classroom. Her students designed and signed a contract that set out guidelines and made sure they would not be distracted by the new seating styles. Supporting children’s physical health is a priority for Lemos. When a local medical center provided the district with GoNoodle, a program that provides physical “brain breaks” and meditation videos, Lemos was among the first to incorporate it into her classroom.
Lemos uses a growth mindset, whole brain teaching and visible learning strategies to improve student achievement. Her class can often be heard singing and chanting in unison as they transition from one activity to another. Parents respect the cohesive learning community Lemos builds with students and know that she focuses intently on doing what is best for each and every child. Her methods deliver! On the 2019 Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) assessments, Lemos’ students demonstrated 71% proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and 75% in math, well above state averages.
Lemos has a master’s in educational technology, which came in handy when COVID-19 closed schools in spring 2020. She was a valuable resource for students, parents and colleagues as the Chubbuck community pivoted to remote instruction. Lemos provided daily instruction and student support that minimized learning casualties and maximized parental involvement, as well as helping colleagues navigate Google Classroom and Screencastify. Chubbuck resumed in-person classes for 2020-21, but Lemos entered the year prepared with innovative ideas to better facilitate learning for students and families, whether in the classroom or online. She has served on the school leadership team and the district’s unit development team, facilitating instruction “camps” for all third-grade teachers in the district (in District #25, camp stands for “Come And Meet Periodically”). She started her teaching career at Paul Elementary in Paul, Idaho. She taught there for four years. Before joining Chubbuck Elementary in 2016, Lemos spent a year teaching English to Kindergarten students in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Lemos earned a bachelor’s in elementary education in 2011 and a master’s in educational technology in 2013 from Boise State University.
Press release: Milken Family Foundation Surprises Chubbuck Elementary Teacher with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
I am a third grade teacher doing my best to impact students on a daily basis. I love watching learners grow academically and socially throughout the school year! I learn from each one of them. They are my "WHY".
"As a student I was very quiet, very shy....I went into..." (read more)
