In LaKeshia Ames' fourth-grade class at Churchland
Primary and Intermediate School in Portsmouth, each
student is known as a "professor" and takes that
moniker seriously. These young "professors" take their
teacher quite seriously, too. Ames garners a high
level of respect from her young charges, who make
great gains in her "positive, friendly and child-
centered" environment. One interesting word used to
describe her class: "magical."
Ames uses an interactive Promethean board, iPads and
manipulatives, along with games and centers of
activity to promote high levels of engagement. Rap and
rhyme are continuously infused into her lessons to
make them more engaging and relevant to her students.
Solid performers on the state Standards of Learning
(SOL) test, Ames's kids achieved a 91 percent passing
rate in reading and a 70 percent passing rate in math
for the 2011-12 school year, ranking above the state
averages. They have consistently performed at or
above state averages in reading and math for the past
three school years.
Ames presents on Singapore Math and Paul Brown Test
Taking and also sits on the state math curriculum
frameworks committee. A member of the school
improvement team, she is a master teacher in math and
served as fourth-grade department chair. As chair for
school improvement and data analysis, Ames is the
Teachers Expectations Student Achievement coordinator,
mentors new educators and leads in-service development
for staff. Beyond the campus, Ames finds time to
volunteer with the Red Cross, United Way and HOPE
Youth Center.
