Being able to communicate effectively is a conduit for confidence. For shy students at a young age for whom English isn’t their first language, it can be even more difficult to believe in themselves, which can have an impact on their studies and social life.
Shannon Davis, an English Language teacher at Grand River Academy, strives to help those students gain that self-assurance. She has had students who were quiet but have opened up with her help, even volunteering to speak in front of the class or present during an assembly. One student even went from being more reserved to reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish to a gym packed with her middle school peers.
That guidance is one reason Davis was named an Excellence in Teaching winner this year as part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) Excellence Awards.
“I just want them to feel confident, regardless of how they’re doing academically or what their English proficiency levels are,” she said. “I just want them to feel capable of doing anything they put their mind to, and I definitely see that as time goes on. You start to see them get more comfortable and more confident, even with their social relationships, which is also super important.”
Davis is in her seventh year at Grand River Academy, which has outperformed the district for nine years. She started at the school as a fourth grade teacher and also has taught first grade but has spent the majority of her time as an EL teacher. She enjoys bonding with students by playing games and taking part in projects such as raising butterflies.
“Every year we have a lot of fun,” she said. “My kids and I, we always find cool projects to do.”
Whether it’s working with small groups or one on one, Davis appreciates that her position allows her to get to know students outside of the structure of a classroom by learning about their home and culture. The distractions are minimized and give her a space that better suits the connection she hopes to make.
“I love my role. It’s the best job ever,” she said. “I get to build a very strong relationship with them and give them extra attention that they’re not able to have in the classroom just because there's always so many students in so many things going on. It’s a lot of fun to get to know them on a deeper level than a lot of teachers get the chance to do. I’m super lucky.”
Keep up the excellent work, Mrs. Davis!
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About Grand River Academy
Grand River Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Livonia, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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