Congratulations to Ms. Sullivan! Her Mom, Jane Sullivan, works here at the Firm and is VERY proud of her daughter!
May 6, 2019 – Asheville City Schools announced its 2020 District Teacher of the Year, Ms. Marti Sullivan. An Academically or Intellectually Gifted Specialist (AIG) teacher at Isaac Dickson Elementary School. She was announced as the ACS Teacher of the Year during a surprise assembly this past Monday morning. The reveal’s timing was extra special, as it coincides with ACS’s Teacher Appreciation Week.
The following is an excerpt from the ACS press release:
As Isaac Dickson’s AIG Specialist, Sullivan directly works with each Kindergartener – 5thGrader. Yes, her 467 students may differ in age, but Sullivan’s curriculum is continuously grounded in building relationships, increasing engagement and decreasing behaviors that distract from a student’s ability to learn.
“Developing and understanding culturally responsive teaching and mindfulness has been avital part of my work. Implementation of Zaretta Hammond’s Ready for Rigor framework and explicitly teaching students about their brains, the power of taking risks and making mistakes and strategies for self-regulation have given my students confidence and skills that transfer across curriculum and into all areas of their lives.”
In addition to sharing what she’s learned with her own colleagues, Sullivan has provided professional development sessions on a variety of topics – including Reaching All Learners, Differentiation, Strategies for Rigor and Engagement, Understanding Mindfulness as well as Becoming Culturally Responsive – at the district, state and national level. She shares these strategies, curriculum and models with teachers who are then able to go back to their classrooms and implement her best practices.
Outside of the classroom, Sullivan enjoys volunteering with the Asheville High School Theatre Program where she’s served as the booster president for International Thespian Society Troupe 2237 for the past six years. Additionally, she volunteers annually at the Isaac Dickson Hot Chocolate 5K as well as with the YTL to assist with their Sweetheart Supper fundraiser.
To read the full press release from Asheville City Schools click here.