Tiffany Lee-Clarke Named Alexandria Schools Teacher of the Year
Jasibi Crews is ACPS Principal of the Year
ALEXANDRIA, VA-Tiffany Lee-Clarke has been named Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Teacher of the Year. She teaches third grade at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School. She has been an educator for more than three decades.
The latest issue of ACPS Express in announcing the honor, says she”consistently demonstrates high ideals, professionalism, knowledge and the ability to help her students become the best they can be. She understands the individual needs of students, encourages their talents and fosters their self-esteem.”
Known to her students and fellow staff as “Mrs. TLC,” which stands for “tender, loving, and a huge caretaker,” Lee-Clarke feels it is her responsibility to “teach, love, and display compassion for the next generation,” according to the newsletter. Because she is a cancer survivor, she influences her students to have courage and a positive attitude.
Lee-Clarke possesses a hands-on style of teaching that creates a positive learning environment and helps her students better understand their lessons. She is able to make subjects relatable, and this helps increase each student’s confidence in his or her knowledge.
To new teachers, she serves as a mentor. And she is a source of encouragement for her co-workers.
Principal of the Year
ACPS selected Jasibi Crews as Principal of the Year. She leads Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology. Since coming onboard 7 years ago, the school has shown outstanding performance outcomes in state accreditation every year.
It has also shown “immeasurable improvements in school culture,” according to ACPS Express, thanks to “her set expectations and role modeling.”
Crews has created an inviting atmosphere, and as a result, the families of students are more engaged. She reaches students and their families in many ways, including translation services for all communications and events.
The newsletter says “Crews has reinvigorated the designation of Cora Kelly as a STEM school.” She makes an investment in her staff and how the school is run to give students the most up-to-date STEM skills, while encouraging questioning minds and the use of problem-solving skills.
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