In 2018, Avon and Washington Township voters approved an Operating Referendum that allowed Avon Community School Corporation to lower class sizes, increase vital student supports, and better recruit and retain excellent educators. In this episode, Dr. Wyndham sits down for a conversation with three of those excellent educators: Maple Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Janet Craig, Evergreen Elementary 1st Grade Teacher Lauren Ruth, and Avon High School Math Department Chair and Math Teacher Andrea Austin. They share their perspectives on Avon Schools before and since voters approved the 2018 Referendum. Join the conversation; you'll be inspired by these teachers skill and dedication to the success of all students.
"[Kindergarten students require] a lot of consistency, and love, and care, and nurturing. ... My goal is that they'll come out happy, enjoying school, loving every moment they can, and making memories because they have a teacher — or teachers — that can do that with smaller class sizes." Janet Craig, Maple Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher
"I feel like one of the biggest words that summarizes the people in Avon is 'committed'. The educators, the children, the community — everyone is committed to Avon Schools." Lauren Ruth, Evergreen Elementary School 1st Grade Teacher
"At the high school level, class size is probably one of the greatest changes we've seen. Prior to the referendum, I'd say we were averaging 30-35 students per class. Once the Referendum passed in 2018 we immediately hired a Math teacher, which was able to reduce class size, specifically in some of the areas on which we wanted to focus like Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 — those skills that students really need to be successful in the high school." Andrea Austin, AHS Math Department Chair and Math Teacher