StudentsFirst Teacher Fellows
Kristen Briggs
Kristen N. Briggs is a 2009 graduate of Morgan State University where she earned a B.S. in Psychology. She went on to become a Teach For America corps member in Philadelphia where she taught secondary Special Education and earned her M.Ed. from Chestnut Hill College in 2011. She currently teaches 10th grade Learning Support at KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy in Philadelphia, PA. Having been laid off from the School District of Philadelphia as a result of "last in, first out" (LIFO) policies, Kristen has seen firsthand what these policies can do to our students and is excited to work with StudentsFirst as a fellow.
I have seen what educational policy that doesn't include the voice of teachers and our students looks like on the ground — I've witnessed it in my classroom everyday in the eyes of my students and their families. I decided it was time for me to do more than just bear witness to it, it's time for me to have an active role in changing and improving it for my students and students across the country.
Dr. Michele Jahnke
As a public school teacher, Dr. Michele Jahnke has worked in the same rural school district for 25 years with teaching experience at the elementary, middle school and the high school levels. Michele is an advocate for at-risk learners and is passionate about changes that need to occur in schools for all students to be successful. In addition to her teaching role, she has served as a school improvement coordinator and worked with other leaders in the building to drive systematic changes through restructuring, changes in evaluation of teachers and the required use of student data to determine student growth. Michele's most recent role has been Dean of Students at the high school level where she works with teachers, students and parents to ensure increasing success of all students. In 2000, Michele received her Master's degree in At-Risk Education and in 2010 she received a Ph.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service.
I became a Fellow because I have seen many children get lost in a system that doesn't meet their needs. I believe, as a Fellow, I can be an influence in changing the system so all students are educated to the highest possible levels.
Dr. Kadhir Rajagopal
Dr. Rajagopal has been a teacher for 7 years as well as an instructional coach for fellow teachers. His experience has been helping urban students — especially those who have a history of failure, indifference to 6 F's on a report card, lack of parental support, and low skill level — rise to consistent success. Dr. Rajagopal's students have consistently closed the achievement gap in mathematics in terms of race and income. Since finding success in the classroom, Dr. Rajagopal and his students have spoken throughout the nation at conferences on closing the achievement gap. The pedagogy he uses is called CREATE. Dr. Rajagopal has written a book, Create Success! Unlocking the Potential of Urban Students, published by Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development. This book reveals the specific strategies Dr. Raja has used to uplift hundreds of urban students from a history of failure to success. Dr. Raja strongly believes that any teacher who takes personal responsibility for their students' success and who diligently implements the CREATE instructional approach will uplift any population of students in any type of classroom to success. In June 2010 Dr. Rajagopal was recognized as Sacramento County's Teacher of the Year and in November 2010, Dr. Rajagopal was named as 2011 California State Teacher of The Year.
Research has shown that the teacher is one of the most important factors that determine student achievement. A teacher's success is seen, not in how many concepts he has covered, but by how many concepts students have learned. I believe in any organization that holds teachers accountable for students' learning. StudentsFirst is a significant civil rights movement that advocates for students because it challenges America to put only the best teachers in every classroom and expects and rewards great teaching that is seen in students' learning.
Gina Wickstead
Gina Wickstead has been a teacher for nine years, and the 2011-2012 school year will be her eighth at Aki Kurose Middle School in Seattle. She received an undergraduate degree from The Evergreen State College and a Master's in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. In 2008 she received a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate. Along with teaching in the upcoming school year, she will be a staff developer in her building and site supervisor for student teachers. Gina is a literacy leader and presenter in her district and has been a guest instructor for the University of Washington Teaching Program. This year she will be working with The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession, the New Millenium Initiative with The Center for Teaching Quality and Teachers United to ensure students come first when policies are made in Seattle Schools.
I decided to become a fellow because the educational policies in our country do not always have the best interests of students in mind. StudentsFirst has the best interests of children in mind while fighting for elevating the teaching profession, empowering parents and spending taxpayer's money wisely.
