2012 Ennis Award goes to EGHS teacher Linda Ashida
The District 214 school board has presented an Elk Grove High School Spanish 5/Advanced Placement teacher with the 2012 Dr. Elizabeth A. Ennis Innovative Educator Award.
Linda Ashida, an instructional coach at the school, was chosen to receive this prestigious award because her innovative work best enhances the quality of teaching and learning in District 214.
The award bears the name of former District 214 superintendent Dr. Elizabeth A. Ennis, an educator who enthusiastically encouraged new, creative methods for improving student learning and achievement.
During her 15 years of leadership, innovative learning programs such as Vanguard School and the Newcomer Center were initiated. Both are flourishing today.
As an instructional coach, Ashida has improved teaching and learning within EGHS. This year, she created Peer Observation Groups that have fostered a unique and innovative professional growth opportunity for teachers across disciplines.
Currently, she leads two teacher groups from various content areas and every level, from preparatory to Advanced Placement. During a two-week rotation, one teacher volunteers to be observed and indicates a strategy that is working well or an area in which they would like feedback. The following week, the teachers debrief and the teacher who was observed reflects on his/her own lesson. Then all teachers offer feedback and discuss how they can use the strategies in their own classes.
In just a few months, teachers have shared common strategies for peer editing, annotating, using rubrics, sharing samples of student work, establishing initial class routines to engage students immediately, and much more. Their ideas are recorded and their strategies are shared online.
Linda uses her iPad to take photos and video clips of teachers that are used as samples of their work to share with others. Teachers are enthusiastic and thankful to have a safe venue to share and receive non-evaluative feedback.
Linda’s influence has been felt as Peer Observation Groups are increasing rapidly and fostering a true desire among teachers to make their school a better place to teach, to learn, and promote greater student achievement.