National Teacher Appreciation Week: Brittany Albrecht

May 9, 2015

Brittany Albrecht joined Academy of Hope PCS as an AmeriCorps volunteer and quickly rose to become the lead reading teacher. At Academy of Hope PCS she works to meet the challenges of the new GED by designing a Reading and Social Studies curriculum that prepares learners for the increased demands of the new test. Ms. Albrecht's constantly focuses on ways to help all learners meet their goals, creatively designing engaging lessons and doing everything necessary to ensure learners’ success.

Her classroom is a laboratory for innovative methods that increase learners’ critical thinking skills. Most recently, when learners struggled with reading complex texts, she transformed a Think Aloud reading strategy by turning it into a group annotation poster activity. Classes throughout the school were re-energized as learners working together to master the strategy that so many had struggled with before.

Ms. Albrecht's commitment to learners was never more evident than when she taught the college prep and success classes. To build confidence and community, she posed each learner for a picture in front of the whiteboard where other learners wrote positive comments, giving each learner a permanent reminder of their contribution to the class. Her work went beyond the classroom, all the way to the doors of the community college. She met individually with each learner to help them with all of the logistics of applying to college. She also accompanied each learner to college orientation, ensuring a successful start. And she did not let them stray from their goal, even meeting frequently with two learners grieving the death of a classmate, helping them to pursue their education while mourning their friend. In short, Ms. Albrecht is a teacher who gives everything she has to ensure that every learner succeeds.

Thank you for your dedication to your students, Ms. Albrecht!

This week PCSB is highlighting public charter school teachers that work hard every day to prepare DC’s public charter school students for college and the workforce. From PK to adult education programs, public charter school teachers strive to increase the academic performance and school culture for their students.