TEACHERS
OF THE
YEAR SARAH ANDREA
THIRD GRADE GENERAL
STUDIES TEACHER AT
CHARLES E. SMITH
JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
IN ROCKVILLE, MD
Remember that
parents and
teachers both
have the
student’s best
interest at
heart. NOMINATED BY:
WHITNEY W.

“After spending six
years teaching 5th
graders in a South
Carolina public school
(her home state), she
decided to join the
Peace Corps. Sarah
spent two years in The
Gambia; living like
a local, and training
elementary teachers
on effective literacy
practices. After returning to
the states, she joined
the CESJDS staff
where she has made
a signifi cant imprint
in her three-year (and
counting) tenure. She
was selected as one of
two Legacy Heritage
Teacher Leader
Fellows. Sarah is also one of
two co-developers of
a new Lower School
Executive Functioning
curriculum and
program. She has
rolled up her sleeves
to write units, develop
teacher training and
mentoring, and more.

Sarah will also start a
new role as the Grade
Level Leader for the
third grade in the fall.”
SPONSORED BY:
28 August 2017
What originally got you
interested in teaching?
I had amazing teachers
all throughout my life, but
especially in high school.

My English teachers,
Mrs. Brown and Mrs.

DiGiacomo, inspired me
to go into teaching.

What’s your funniest
teaching moment?
Every year we invite
family members to our
class to share a book as
the mystery reader. One
parent went the extra
mile when she hobbled
into class on a walker
wearing a monster mask!
Do you have any tried
and trusted ideas or
activities for motivating
students? I always spend the fi rst
weeks of school teaching
and practicing routines
and procedures. Students
washingtonFAMILY.com are successful when they
know exactly what is
expected of them.

What advice would
you give to aspiring
teachers? Don’t feel pressure to say
yes to everything. And,
fake it ‘til you make it.

What are three things
you use in your
classroom everyday and
could never live without?
Chime, a great read-aloud
book and coffee.

How can parents and
teachers work together
to empower and engage
children? Remember that parents
and teachers both have
the student’s best interest
at heart. Assuming best
intentions goes a long
way when creating a
partnership between
parents and teachers.




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washingtonFAMILY.com August 2017 29