Rhonda Bailey-Clarke, a fifth grade teacher from Curtis Elementary, has received the Virginia Region I Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted Award. This award highlights and recognizes the accomplishments of talented educators providing gifted services to students.
The Virginia Association for the Gifted received many applications from extremely qualified candidates. Bailey-Clarke’s credentials, experience, and recommendations earned her the highest evaluation by the selection committee. The association believes that by recognizing the high performance standards set forth by the winners they will inspire other educators and, and as a result, improve education for the gifted in Virginia.
“Rhonda Bailey-Clarke is an exceptional educator, not only to our gifted students, but to all of her students,” said Curtis Elementary principal Susan Pereira. “She works to engage each student in the learning process and meets them where they are in their learning. She works tirelessly to ensure that the Virginia Standards of Learning are not only taught, but surpassed, through questioning and hands-on activities, and she encourages students to look at mistakes as learning opportunities, which creates an environment where students become risk takers.”
