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21 Mar 2018

Nirali Singh Recognised as ‘High Impact Teacher’ in Florida, US for 2nd Year

Nirali Ajit Singh, a Grade 4 teacher of gifted students at Del Prado Elementary in Boca Raton, Florida was recognised by the Florida Department of Education as one of the High Impact Teachers in the school district. This is the second consecutive year that she is receiving this honour. Nirali is the daughter of Padma and Navin Shah and is married to Ajit Singh.

The designation of High Impact Teacher is based on an analysis, done by the Department of Education, of student performance on statewide assessments in the immediate past three school years. The department uses a series of measures and calculations (VAM), to assess the value added by each teacher, while evaluating their performance. Less than 10% of teachers throughout the district are selected for this honour.

Selected teachers receive a letter from the district’s Education Commissioner and Education Superintendent which acknowledges the “hard work and ....significant contribution to Florida’s students and communities” and “continued commitment to preparing Florida’s students for college, career and life”.

Last year, Nirali was featured in an article on resourceful teachers in the local newspaper SunSentinel, that highlighted initiatives to raise funds from the community to meet needs of the school. She raised $803 for six “Hokki stools,” colorful stools with convex seats that allow her fidgety students to keep moving while sitting, even as they solve math problems. She has used the same route to help donors contribute on four other occasions.

“The kids love them (the stools). We have so many kids who love the movement while they are working,” she told the newspaper.