Tucson Values Teachers (TVT) presented the February Teacher Excellence Award to Lindsey Gilchrist, a second-grade teacher at Rio Vista Elementary School in Amphitheater Public Schools. Ms. Gilchrist was nominated by Mamie Spillane, the principal at Rio Vista, and Pamela Kenney, a parent of one of Gilchrist’s students.
After receiving the award, Ms. Gilchrist said, “I love my students. They are a gift that I get to be with. I love them all and they know that.” Ms. Gilchrist has been teaching for 13 years; the last three years have been at Rio Vista.
In Ms. Spillane’s nominating statement, she wrote, “Mrs. Gilchrist has created a learning environment in which students have voice and choice in their learning.” She went on to say, “Mrs. Gilchrist’s classroom is a magical place in which all students receive the best education and social support one could hope for.”
In Ms. Kenney’s nomination, she described Ms. Gilchrist as an amazing teacher. “She makes these kids feel great about themselves and excited to do better. She goes above and beyond to communicate with parents and find positive plans for each and every student in her class.”
