Sarah Campbell

Sarah Campbell has been incorporating technology in her classroom since HISD’s PowerUp initiative came to her campus last fall. Now, the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy teacher and member of the PowerUp Teacher Leader Corps is hoping to parlay her cutting-edge instructional methods into national recognition and a big cash prize.

Campbell was one of three HISD educators nominated by Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Officer Lance Menster for the TNTP’s Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice, which recognizes exceptional teachers working in high-poverty public schools and comes with a top award of $25,000.

“I think the first thing I will share with the judges is our ‘flip the flipped classroom’ approach,” said Campbell. “In a flipped classroom, the teacher pushes out content and students arrive in class to practice and adjust their learning, rather than learning it in the classroom and practicing it (often times incorrectly) at home. But in our room, the students push out the content to their peers and lead each other in the practice approach—a flip on the flip. I am just the guide to the guides on the side.”

Teachers don’t have to be nominated to apply for the Fishman Prize, but nominating someone is an easy way to show a teacher that he or she matters. Please take a few seconds right now to nominate a great teacher at tntp.org/nominate. The deadline to apply is Dec. 16.

The Fishman Prize is offered by TNTP, a nonprofit organization working to ensure that all students get excellent teachers.