COVINGTON — A commitment to excellence and student achievement has helped a Jeter-Watson Elementary School teacher receive recognition from a group of public school divisions in Virginia.
The Comprehensive Instructional Program recently named Tiffany Gillispie one of its most successful teachers of at-risk students. Gillispie teaches third grade at Jeter-Watson Elementary School.
The recognition is based on Standards of Learning test scores for 2023-2024. Gillispie was specifically recognized for student achievement in reading and math.
Recognized teachers had a minimum of 50 percent of their students who were identified as economically disadvantaged, and at least 10 percent of their students were identified as students with disabilities. Of those teachers, CIP selected the five with the highest SOL scores. School divisions participating in CIP are located throughout the Commonwealth.
“This honor truly shows the power of high expectations and believing in our kids,” said Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson, leaders of AHPS.
The CIP, based in Wise, is a consortium of public school divisions in Virginia that work together to improve student achievement. The CIP is designed to help teachers by
providing lesson plans, activities, and assessments aligned with Virginia’s Standards of Learning. The SOL tests measure students' success in meeting the state’s expectations in core subject areas.
The CIP was launched in the 2015-2016 school year after Southwest Virginia school superintendents met regularly to discuss common problems. The school divisions created the CIP to pool resources and share best practices in instruction. The CIP has since expanded to include school divisions throughout Virginia.
The resources provided by the CIP are submitted by teachers whose students have demonstrated high levels of success in meeting the SOL standards. This is particularly important to AHPS as the school division adapts to ever-changing SOL standards. These standards reflect new information that students must learn.
Gillispie has taught for Alleghany Highlands Public Schools and the historic Covington City Public Schools for 21 years.
In the spring of 2004, she completed her studies at Radford University. Her professional background includes Title I, kindergarten, and second grade. She now teaches third grade. She says her passion for education can be attributed to the influence of her mother, Becky Moran, and her late grandmother, Pearl Davis. Gillispie was recognized as the 2023 Teacher of the Year for Jeter-Watson Elementary School in association with the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
“I'm thrilled to be recognized, and I want to emphasize that it's truly a team effort. Without the collaboration and support of my colleagues, this recognition wouldn't have been possible. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with such dedicated educators, and I believe our teamwork has a significant impact on our students' success,” Gillispie said.
“Our role as teachers extends far beyond test scores,” she said. “It's about fostering a love for learning, instilling confidence, and providing support to help students grow academically and personally. Thank you for the acknowledgement. I truly appreciate the support and encouragement from everyone around me. It motivates me to continue to strive for excellence.”
Jeter-Watson Principal Cynthia Morgan said Gillispie is an example of the dedicated staff at the school.
“It’s always a privilege to honor one of our own great educators at Jeter-Watson Elementary. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate faculty. They consistently work together striving to meet the needs of our students. They provide engaging lessons, connect the content to real world experiences, while providing a safe and nurturing school experience. We celebrate their commitment to inspire our students daily,” Morgan said.
With approximately 2,700 students, the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Division is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington. AHPS was formed in July 2022 through the merger of Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center.
AHPS news and events are regularly updated on Facebook at AHPublicSchools, and on Instagram at ahpublicschools. Information is also available at www.ahps.k12.va.us.