Chevy Chase

A teacher at Chevy Chase Elementary School for three years, Amanda Hammersla has been named this year’s Rising Star Teacher of the Year by MCPS. This award honors a teacher in their first, second or third year of teaching. The winner shows a passion for the success of all students, creatively engages students in learning and contributes to a strong, positive partnership among students, staff, parents and the community.

Hammersla believes that students learn best when they are engaged, valued and challenged. She inspires students to take a deep dive into reading with innovative approaches. She turned her classroom into a restaurant while students wore chef hats and sampled new books. She wrote a PTA grant, which brought an author into the classroom virtually while students asked questions. She reads texts in characters’ voices. Through Reader’s Theater, students make costumes and props and perform for peers and families. This helps students develop speaking and listening skills, build fluency and work collaboratively.

Rock Creek Forest Elementary School welcomed about 50 members of the University of Maryland track and field team for its Reading Rocks event earlier this month. They visited classrooms and read to students. They also talked about the importance of studying hard, reading and writing, telling students, “You’ll have to write many papers in college!” They brought enormous enthusiasm to the day.

Reading Rocks was the brainchild of former Rock Creek Forest reading specialist Clara Register. It began about 10 years ago. Register discovered that fifth grade teacher Meredith Valmon was married to Andrew Valmon, Olympic Gold medalist and Maryland head coach for cross country and track and field. She suggested he bring the team to the school to read to students and speak with them about setting goals and looking ahead to college. Andrew Valmon saw a great opportunity for his student-athletes to be role models and invest in their Maryland community.