At John Tyler Elementary School in Washington, D.C., kindergarten teacher Patricia C. (Laporte) Wilkins ignites students' curiosities and constantly challenges them to improve. She uses a thematic approach to learning and has dressed up as a bag of trash, a fire, a tree that didn't know its roots from its leaves, and a confused mail carrier in order to keep her classroom entertaining and engaging. To culminate their "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" unit, Mrs. (Laporte) Wilkins's students shared their recycled gift creations in the kindergarten store. She initiated a reading activity for schoolwide participation called C.A.R.P.E.T. Time (Caring Attentive Readers Putting Education Together). Mrs. (Laporte) Wilkins serves on the Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT) and chairs the School Climate Committee. She is a mentor teacher, demonstration teacher for new teachers, workshop presenter and facilitator.
