Chamisa Elementary And Los Alamos Online Academy Receive 2024 Innovation In Education Award

Chamisa Elementary School, along with the Los Alamos Online Learning Academy (LAOLA), received a 2024 Innovation in Education award. LAOLA Principal Kati Steinberg, Chamisa Principal Craig Washnok and Math Lab teacher Carolyn Torres, Chamisa first grade teacher Michaela Tarbox were on hand to accept the award, which was presented by Hope Morales, Executive Director of Teach Plus, left, and other representatives from Teach Plus. Courtesy/LAPS

The 2024 Innovation in Education award presented to Chamisa Elementary and the Los Alamos Online Learning Academy. Courtesy/LAPS

LAPS News:

Chamisa Elementary School, along with the Los Alamos Online Learning Academy (LAOLA), received a 2024 Innovation in Education award during the third annual Innovation in Education Summit hosted by Teach Plus in Albuquerque last Friday.

“Chamisa and LAOLA are really excited to be recognized as a 2024 New Mexico Innovative School in Early Literacy and Math,” said Chamisa Principal Craig Washnok. “Our teachers and staff have worked tirelessly implementing new ideas through structured literacy and math for their students. Our ELA teachers were able to partner with a State Literacy Coach that allowed students to grow in their reading skills. Collaborating with the State Literacy Coach gave teachers a detailed look at student data to guide literacy lessons at Chamisa culminating in student growth.”

Chamisa’s math teachers were given the experience to work alongside other Northern New Mexico Schools through the Math Teacher Leader Network run by Los Alamos National Labs.

Along with the LANL partnership, our Chamisa Math Lab gave students a unique approach to learning math. “Math Lab is a class students love at Chamisa,” Washnok added.

“It has been amazing to see how these Early Literacy and Math innovations have led to student growth and achievement,” he said. “I am proud to work with such a dedicated staff at Chamisa. They truly represent what Teamwork, Family, and Community mean to our school.”

Teach Plus New Mexico presented the 2024 Innovation in Education awards to only ten schools across the state to recognize their “pioneering changes in education to improve student results.”

Each school that earned an award demonstrated outstanding achievement in one of the following categories:

• Early literacy and math
• Supporting underserved student groups
• Increasing high school graduation rates

Chamisa Elementary was rated as a top innovative school in the early literacy and math category. “Chamisa Elementary School, along with the Los Alamos Online Learning Academy, introduced a pioneering approach to early literacy and math education. Their method focuses on individualized instruction that adapts to the needs of each student. This personalized learning strategy ensures that all students, regardless of their starting level, are engaged and can make substantial progress. The school’s efforts have been geared towards increasing student engagement through dynamic and interactive learning experiences, leading to higher achievement in foundational academic skills.”