Erin's Story

Erin, aged 26, is in her fifth year as a kindergarten teacher in New Orleans.

"Leading Educators has really made a big difference to the children I teach. For the first time, I really know how to use data to understand my pupils' needs better, so that if they are weak in maths, or in reading, I can find out exactly what we need to work on to improve their understanding.

Two years ago, before I was in Leading Educators, 60% of my kindergarten children were at the appropriate level for their grade. This past year, 76% of my pupils reached grade level, so for the first time three in four children are starting out at school at their expected level. I feel this is a really powerful way to set up children for success.

Since joining Leading Educators, I also started a new initiative at my school that will provide the lowest-achieving kids with one-to-one support in their weakest subjects and help them find success. I would not have had the confidence or capability to volunteer to start such an initiative before, but now I am running a programme that will have huge impact on the pupils who need the most attention."