When Aimee Schade steps into a classroom to teach a lesson at West Goshen Elementary, she often starts by talking about soccer. The sport, a West Goshen favorite, helps her connect quickly and build bridges with students of all ages—an important skill when guest-teaching in classrooms other teachers manage on a day-to-day basis. Schade is respected for her ability to take charge of every class she enters, no matter the grade level or subject.
Schade, a TAP master teacher at the diverse, high-poverty K-5 school, is responsible for ensuring the learning of both students and teachers. All schools in the district implement TAP: The System for Teacher and Student Advancement, a structure that supports opportunities for career advancement, professional growth, instructionally-focused accountability and competitive compensation for educators.
As a TAP master teacher, Schade shares responsibilities with administrators and guides instructional best practices for the faculty. She digs into both student and teacher assessment data to figure out what students are learning, what they aren't, and how to address areas of need.
Schade helped lead West Goshen to gains in student achievement. Schoolwide, West Goshen earned the highest possible value-added growth score for 2014-15, a year when Indiana implemented more rigorous college and career readiness standards and statewide assessments.
Schade facilitates weekly professional development, develops and implements plans for strengthening curriculum and assessment, and conducts classroom evaluations aimed at supporting all educators to increase their teaching proficiency. She is known for her willingness to experiment to figure out what works, field testing every strategy and doing her own action research before introducing new instructional techniques to colleagues. Schade taught first, second and fourth grades and served as a TAP mentor teacher before taking on the master teacher role in 2013. She has completed primary years International Baccalaureate training in anticipation of West Goshen Elementary's transition to an IB curriculum.
Known for her leadership skills, work ethic and knowledge of instructional strategy, Schade often serves as a model among the district's TAP master teachers. She is particularly adept at helping teachers experience learning through their students' eyes and developing higher-order thinking skills crucial for success in a global economy.
Schade earned a bachelor's degree in education 2001 from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in elementary education in 2011 from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Press release: Goshen Master Teacher Becomes First in District to Receive Milken Educator Award and $25,000 Cash Prize
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