Karen McDowell is a second grade english as a second language teacher at Thomson Elementary School.

Ms. Karen McDowell began her teaching career eight years ago, and this is her third year at Thomson Elementary School. She chose to work in DCPS because of a desire to be part of positive changes taking place in an urban school setting.

At Thomson Elementary School, Ms. McDowell serves as the chair of the Family and Community Engagement Committee and is a member of the Academic Leadership Team. She is also a former member of the DCPS Chancellor’s Teachers’ Cabinet.

Ms. McDowell loves watching her students grow and transform in her classroom. She says, “One of my hobbies is gardening – I love to watch living things grow and develop. One of the most rewarding things about teaching is that I am able to create an environment in which my students are able to grow in knowledge and confidence.”