Growing up, Mikel Oliver  struggled with math and believed that she simply wasn’t good at it. Finally, a college class on teaching elementary mathematics presented learning in a way that made sense. “From that moment,” she recalls, “I decided that I wanted to be the type of teacher that made students feel successful in math and truly see math as a way of life.” Previously an elementary math teacher in Prince George’s County, Ms. Oliver has spent the past five years as the mathematics and science instructional coach at Stanton, and the results have been extraordinary. In her third year, Stanton tripled their math proficiency. The next year, math proficiency increased another 15 percent, and in 2014, science proficiency increased 35 percent.

Fundamental to her approach is Ms. Oliver’s belief that all students can learn. She attributes Stanton’s success to their efforts to make learning engaging and fun, while maintaining high expectations. When coaching teachers, Ms. Oliver’s main focus is on “providing scholars with opportunities to unearth the genius that lies within.” She challenges teachers to set high expectations, and to create experiences for students to successfully persevere through challenges. Ms. Oliver believes that the essential quality of an exceptional teacher is their ability to genuinely love children. “Love is the most powerful action one can demonstrate to others,” she explains. “The staff at Stanton loves the core essence of each student and loves what they do.” For her part, Ms. Oliver is thrilled by her chosen career. “There’s no other profession where you’re bombarded with hugs, smiling faces, and endless handmade drawings,” she raves. “The best thing about teaching is seeing joy in the eyes of students who see you as your best even when you don’t see it in yourself.”