READ 180 Outstanding Educator Award

Meet Donna Pappas, who has turned lives around by helping her students beat the odds, learn to read and become successful in school and in all aspects of their lives.

A leader in her district and an inspiration to her students, Ms. Pappas is a true motivator who won’t give up on her students until they become “A” students. She meets with every student individually at the beginning of the school year where they set goals and sign a contract agreeing to a standard of behavior and expectations for achievement. Her colleagues say her goal is for every student to improve their reading every day.

READ 180 for Ms. Pappas is not just about boosting reading scores; it’s about improving the whole students – improving their self esteem, increasing their involvement in extracurricular activities and sparking enthusiasm in all subjects. Pappas gives each of her students a mailbox in the classroom, which acts as a means of communication between teacher and student. The students receive updates on their progress, reminders and congratulations when they make gains. And she brings the real world to the classroom by exposing the students to the people, professions and stories told in the student’s course book – called the rBook.

Pappas consistently rises to the challenges of teaching in a district where many of the students live in poverty and in high-crime neighborhoods, and some would find themselves on a path toward becoming high school dropouts if they didn’t improve their reading skills.

“I consider myself to be the most fortunate of teachers because I get to witness these 180s firsthand,” Ms. Pappas said. “It is gratifying to see quiet students find their voices, formerly ambivalent readers sitting enrapt in their latest read, and once-reluctant students crowding around the door to come in early for class.”

Ms. Pappas’ success paid off for one of her students, Marie Sevilla, in 2007 when she was named one of only nine winners of the READ 180 All-Stars award, which recognizes students for turning the lives around by learning to read.

“Mrs. Pappas has shown me that if I believe in myself, I can improve my grades in reading.” —Cindy, 6th grade READ 180 Student of Donna Pappas » More Quotes from former students