Now in his 17th year in the classroom, and his fifth year teaching Spanish to students from preschool to eighth grade at Whittier Education Campus, Frank Medley continues to reflect on and improve his practice. “No matter how challenging a circumstance may arise in my classroom, I never give up and I work harder,” he says. His master educator describes, “He believes that learning is, at its best, an interactive process of questioning, discovery, and application through hands-on use of the content, and he works hard to create the types of learning experiences that honor this philosophy.”  One of his biggest focuses is on establishing an environment where students feel safe and able to learn, describing himself as a “champion for students.”

Mr. Medley wears many hats as a faculty leader at Whittier and throughout D.C. Public Schools. Just to name a few, he mentors new teachers as an instructional coach for the DC Teaching Fellows, helps evaluate and select teacher candidates for the district as a Teacher Selection Ambassador, serves as a model classroom instructor as a Teaching in Action Consulting Teacher, and is the Data Lead for Whittier’s middle school team. Despite all of these commitments, Mr. Medley still makes time to be a powerful and constant presence in the lives of his students. As his principal observes, “Mr. Medley does exactly what great teachers are supposed to do, which is to create a passion for learning that will forever reside with students.” Mr. Medley relies on the example of teachers who inspired him during his childhood. “I was very fortunate to have some outstanding teachers in my life,” he recalls.” They believed in me, they encouraged me, they pushed me, they inspired me, and they empowered me. I love the fact that I can do the same for my students.”