D.C.

Region

A STANDING OVATION
ABOUT THE CEREMONY

For the last three years, D.C. Public Education Fund and D.C. Public Schools, have hosted A Standing Ovation for D.C. Teachers to honor the highly effective educators of D.C. Public Schools, elevate the profile of teachers in our city, and engage the broader community in the transformation of our schools.
The idea to celebrate D.C. teachers came from George Stevens, Jr. an award-winning film and television writer, director, and producer. In 2009, he approached D.C. Public Education Fund (DCPEF) and asked how he could support the reform efforts in D.C. Public Schools (DCPS). The result was the inaugural A Standing Ovation for D.C. Teachers held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The business, arts, and philanthropic communities joined together and contributed generously to celebrate the men and women of D.C. Public Schools who earned the honor of being rated Highly Effective on DCPSs IMPACT teacher evaluation system. As a result, DCPEF was able to host the first Standing Ovation celebration in the fall of 2010. QUICK FACT: In 2012, ten of the thirty Standing Ovation award recipients were Teach For America alumni and corps members. Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Leadership Awards The Excellence Awards recognize eight outstanding DCPS educators with a public trophy presentation at the Kennedy Center and a monetary award of $10,000. These seven teachers and one principal award winners were nominated by DCPS administrators, colleagues, students, parents and community members, and then selected by a central office panel. Eligible teachers and principals achieved a rating of Highly Effective under IMPACT in 2011-2012. The awards are funded through the generosity of David Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group and chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective Educators The Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective Educators honor excellent teachers, school leaders, support staff and aides with an award of $5,000. Presented for the first time in March 2011, these awards are also the result of the generosity of David Rubenstein. Rubenstein winners are nominated by DCPS administrators, colleagues, students, parents and community members, and then selected by a central office panel. Eligible teachers achieved a rating of Highly Effective under IMPACT in 2011-2012. All proceeds for A Standing Ovation for D.C. Teachers support the D.C. Public Education Funds mission to advance excellence in D.C. Public Schools.

A Standing Ovation: http://www.standingovationfordcteachers.org/about-standing-ovation/ D.C. Public Education: http://dceducationfund.org/ District of Columbia Public Schools: http://www.dc.gov/DCPS/impact

TEACH FOR AMERICA WINNERS

Excellence in Teaching Award (2012)

SARAH BAX

Eighth Grade Math Teacher | Hardy Middle School | D.C. Region 94

Sarah Bax was committed to serving urban communities from early in her career. Upon graduating with an urban studies degree, Ms. Bax joined DCPS nineteen years ago as a Teach For America corps member, and she has spent the last thirteen years as a mathematics teacher at Hardy Middle School. Ms. Baxs students thrive in her classroom, which she describes as an ever-evolving mix of urgency and conceptual creativity, with a consistent inclusion of good ole fashioned fun. She relishes the moments when her students discover their inner mathematician and experience the glory of being thirteen that who they are is hardly finished and already amazing. Despite the time she commits to her students, Ms. Bax has taken on numerous other leadership roles, including serving on the Chancellors Teachers Cabinet, as a Master Teacher in the Math for America D.C. program, and as the math department chair at Hardy. She excels at these other roles, but teaching is her true passion. She loves that every day is an awesome adventure there is joy in every step.

VALYNCIA HAWKINS
Valyncia Hawkins attended Anne Beers Elementary School as a DCPS student, and began teaching at Beers eighteen years ago through Teach For America. Ms. Hawkins is extremely grateful for the education she received as a DCPS student and feels as though the success she found throughout her life began with the strong foundation provided by Beers Elementary, Sousa Junior High School, and Ballou Senior High School. Ms. Hawkins describes her classroom as student-centered, and a place where students are expected to take initiative and responsibility for their learning. Ms. Hawkins shares My biggest joy is when students begin to recognize the

Fifth Grade Teacher | Anne Beers Elementary School | D.C. Region 94

intrinsic rewards of academic and social achievement. Knowing that I contributed to this progress is my joy! Outside of the classroom, Ms. Hawkins represents her school community in a variety of leadership roles including serving as a school representative for the Washington Teachers Union and facilitating at a NASA Educators Workshop. It is evident that Ms. Hawkins cares deeply for her school community and is grateful for the support they provide to her. I would like to publicly thank my family, the staff, and the community of Beers for helping me become the teacher I am today.

Valyncia Hawkins

Sarah Bax

BRIAN THOMPSON
Brian Thompson joined DCPS four years ago after serving in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army and came to the district with a strong desire to continue serving his country in a different capacity as a Teach For America corps member. He takes great pride in teaching at Cardozo and credits his colleagues with much of his development as an educator; Cardozo has such a proud history, and I am honored to be a part of it. But his students are the ones who keep him in the classroom. As he expresses, They bring such joy to my life. I learn from them on a daily basis, and they always make me smile and laugh.

Tenth Grade World History Teacher | Cardozo High School | D.C. Region 09
To bring out the best in his students, Mr. Thompson brings out the best in his students by insisting that in history, there are no right answers to challenging questions. Rather, he guides students to examine the subject through their own perspectives, and to use evidence and reason to formulate an understanding of the past. When his students face challenges, Mr. Thompson supports them in finding their own solutions, reminding students that everyone fails at some point in life. The people who succeed are those with the resolve to get back up and try again. I want to provide this generation with the tools necessary to succeed in this world, and to help them become better citizens.

Rubenstein Leadership Award (2012)

CAROLINE JOHN
Principal John began her education career in 2003 as a DCPS middle school teacher at P Harris Educational Campus. She .R. was a part of the 2003 Teach For America corps in Washington, D.C. and has been working in Southeast, Washington for the past nine years. In 2005, Caroline John became a founding teacher for KIPP AIM Academy where she taught reading and writing and fell in love with the workshop model for literacy instruction. In 2007, Ms. John accepted an offer to serve as the founding principal for Washingtons first public charter school for girls, Excel Academy. She served in this capacity during the schools planning year and its first two years of operation. Ms. John was drawn to the transformational work taking place at DCPS and transitioned into her role as a partnership principal with Scholar Academies in 2010. Now in her third year as

Principal | Stanton Elementary School | D.C. Region 03

principal at D.C. Scholars Stanton, Ms. John continues to refine her skills as an instructional leader and coach so that her faculty and staff continue to grow and find even more success in the classroom. She firmly believes that a dynamic team is the key to powerful, effective school transformation. Ms. John has seen firsthand what a committed team of parents, faculty, staff, and leaders can do for a school community. Thanks to her collaborative leadership, over the 2011-2012 school year D.C. Scholars Stanton scholars doubled their gains in reading and tripled their gains in math on the D.C. CAS. Ms. John holds a bachelors degree from Georgetown University and a masters degree in teaching from American University.

Caroline John

Brian Thompson

LAURA AMLING
Ms. Laura Amling began her teaching career four years ago as a preschool/pre-kindergarten teacher through Teach For America. Ms. Amling was inspired to become a teacher because she recognized the impact her teachers had on her life and desired to instill the same values in her students. Ms. Amling shares, I love helping the youngest DCPS students find their own self-confidence, fostering independence, and promoting self-advocacy.

Rubenstein Award For Highly Effective Educators (2012)

Preschool | Powell Elementary School | D.C. Region 09

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Amling continues to perfect her craft by taking advantage of professional development and teacher leadership opportunities. She has served as the grade level chair for the Powell early childhood team, spent a summer as a training specialist for Teach For Americas early childhood education pilot at the Chicago summer institute, and is currently the early childhood content specialist for Teach For Americas D.C. Region.

KRISTOFER COMEFORO
Before moving into an academic dean position, Mr. Kristofer Comeforo taught chemistry for three years at Anacostia Senior High School. Mr. Comeforo was placed at Anacostia through Teach For America and after completing his twoyear commitment, felt compelled to stay at the school. He says that education is the most important civil rights issue of our time, and believes it is a fight that must and can be won. Mr. Comeforo describes his students as the brightest he has ever met, and his colleagues as doggedly dedicated to the success of their school. coaching varsity football.

Academic Dean (former science teacher) | Anacostia High School | D.C. Region 09
Mr. Comeforo has taken on many leadership roles at Anacostia, including serving as the science department chair, founding and mentoring the schools robotics team, and

As a teacher, Mr. Comeforo kept his students engaged by using labs, experiments, and demonstrations in his classes. He says that his students rarely felt like they were doing work. As a result of this hands-on approach, students showed tremendous growth and a dedication to learning science.

Kristofer Comeforo

Laura Amling

DREW GALLAGHER
Mr. Drew Gallagher has been named DCPSs 2012 New Teacher of the Year. Mr. Gallagher joined DCPS last fall as a Teach For America corps member to teach third grade at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School. He was drawn to the district because he wanted to make a difference and could think of no better place to teach than the public education system of our nations capital. Teaching in the city where change is made every day, I constantly feel empowered by this politically and socially charged city. For someone who is

Third Grade | Bruce-Monroe Education Campus | D.C. Region 11

passionate about our country, Washington, D.C. is the perfect place to be. Mr. Gallagher enjoys creating an enthusiastic and imaginative classroom. He shares, I appreciate the diversity, talents, enthusiasm, and curiosity that my young scholars bring to class every day. I feel honored to be given the trust and confidence to make the transformational change that my students deserve.

SCOTT HARDING
Mr. Scott David Harding, Jr. began his career seven years ago as a preschool teacher in the Teach For America early childhood initiative pilot. After teaching for two years, Mr. Harding left the classroom to serve as an Early Reading First Literacy Coach. However, he missed having his own students to work with and so he quickly returned to his previous role as a classroom teacher. This year, Mr. Harding is entering his third year as a teacher at Maury Elementary School where he is heavily involved in the school community he has served as the Family Engagement Fellow for the

Preschool | Maury Elementary School | D.C. Region 06

Flamboyan Foundation and the LIFT (Leadership Initiative For Teachers) ambassador. As a preschool teacher, Mr. Harding says every day in the classroom is truly a combination of all of my passions: performing, planning events, building relationships, and having fun. Using the Reggio principles and culturally responsive curriculum, his goal is to make each child a researchera true scientist, as they take ownership of their own educational process.

Drew Gallagher

Scott Harding

JENNIFER KRYSTOPOWICZ
Special Education | Tyler Elementary School | D.C. Region 07
Ms. Jennifer Kate Krystopowicz began teaching at Tyler Elementary School six years ago after realizing, as an undergraduate tutor at School Without Walls, that she wanted a career that allowed her to make a difference in the lives of the Districts youth,which led to her decision to join Teach For America. At Tyler Elementary School, Ms. Krystopowicz serves on the Academic Leadership Team and the Local School Advisory Team. She also serves as the schools LIFT Ambassador and is a former member of the DCPS Chancellors Teachers Cabinet. Ms. Krystopowicz shares, Since I have a wide spectrum of grades and learning needs in my classroom, there is no one teaching style that I follow. My job is to find the style that works best for each individual student. Whether thats done kinesthetically or visually, I am constantly thinking of new ways to reach every single student in my room.

KENNETH ROBINSON
Fourth Grade | Hendley Elementary School | D.C. Region 93
Mr. Kenneth Robinson has spent his entire 20-year teaching career at Hendley Elementary School. Before teaching, Mr. Robinson graduated from Bowie State University with a degree in business but knew he couldnt be happy working in a small cubicle and wanted to do more for his community. Mr. Robinson was inspired to become a teacher by his wife, a teacher herself at the time, who highlighted his talents as an artist and his ability to explain concepts to children. He was placed at Hendley through Teach For America in 1993 and shares, I fell in love with the community and the kids, and I knew I could teach for the rest of my life. I felt more respect for being a teacher than I could have ever imagined. Mr. Robinson loves seeing his students learn to respect the power of education. Even when they resist his efforts at first, he knows that eventually theyll be eager for to teach them more and more. The real payoff comes when students come back to visitespecially those who have enrolled in Bowie State!

Kenneth Robinson

Jennifer Krystopowicz