Marti Sullivan named ACS’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

Press release from Asheville City schools:

The teachers of Asheville City Schools go home with more on their minds than just lesson plans; their compassion and care for students is unending.

Asheville City Schools is pleased to announce its 2020 District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Marti Sullivan.

An Academically or Intellectually Gifted Specialist at Isaac Dickson Elementary School, she was named the ACS Teacher of the Year during a surprise assembly this morning.

The reveal’s timing was extra special, as it coincides with Teacher Appreciation Week.

Surrounded by her students and colleagues, Sullivan was also greeted by her husband Jake Bible and daughter Annah Bible-Sullivan, a Junior at Asheville High School. Her son, Sam Bible-Sullivan, is also an Asheville High School graduate. The current University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sophomore graduated from the district in 2017.

Superintendent Dr. Denise Patterson explained to students that “this is an amazing honor for Mrs. Sullivan.”

“Mrs. Sullivan is an outstanding teacher at Isaac Dickson Elementary School. While she’s the gifted support specialist, she makes sure that she provides services for all students,” said Dr. Patterson. “We appreciate her teacher leadership and all that she’s done for Asheville City Schools.”

The 2018-2019 school year marks Sullivan’s 25th year in the classroom and 11th at Isaac Dickson.

During her tenure with Asheville City Schools, she has been part of three ACS Leadership Capacity Programs, collaborated with the AIG Advisory Council and served as its Elementary
AIG Lead, earned two TAPAS ( Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools) Grants from the Asheville City Schools Foundation as well as received a Racial Equity Grant during the 2014-2015 school year.

Sullivan is also part of Isaac Dickson Elementary School’s Equity Leadership Team and the Mindfulness Team which has allowed her to “facilitate community and staff events that strive to bring together a diverse group of people interested in helping our children succeed.”

She is also a member of her School Improvement Team, MTSS and Climate Committee.

Additionally, Sullivan was recognized as an exemplary 5th Grade Teacher by her previous school, Ira B. Jones Elementary, where she was named its 2008 Teacher of the Year.

As Isaac Dickson’s AIG Specialist, Sullivan directly works with each Kindergartener – 5th Grader. Yes, her 467 students may differ in age, but Sullivan’s curriculum is continuously grounded in building relationships, increasing engagement and decreasing behaviors that distract from a student’s ability to learn.

“Developing and understanding culturally responsive teaching and mindfulness has been a vital part of my work. Implementation of Zaretta Hammond’s Ready for Rigor framework and explicitly teaching students about their brains, the power of taking risks and making mistakes and strategies for self-regulation have given my students confidence and skills that transfer across curriculum and into all areas of their lives.”

In addition to sharing what she’s learned with her own colleagues, Sullivan has provided professional development sessions on a variety of topics – including Reaching All Learners, Differentiation, Strategies for Rigor and Engagement, Understanding Mindfulness as well as Becoming Culturally Responsive – at the district, state and national level. She shares these strategies, curriculum and models with teachers who are then able to go back to their classrooms and implement her best practices.

Outside of the classroom, Sullivan enjoys volunteering with the Asheville High School Theatre Program where she’s served as the booster president for International Thespian Society Troupe 2237 for the past six years. Additionally, she volunteers annually at the Isaac Dickson Hot Chocolate 5K as well as with the YTL to assist with their Sweetheart Supper fundraiser.

She also stays connected and supports her community by participating in book groups and lectures.

“I have been part of community groups reading The New Jim Cro w by Michelle Alexander, Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby, When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Cullors and Just
Mercy by Bryan Stevenson,” said Sullivan. “By spending time in these groups, I have been able to connect with new people, discussing and learning ways to use my role as an educator to combat the injustices and inequities facing so many in our community.”

Sullivan is a graduate of the University of Florida, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Education as well as a Master of Arts in Education. She earned her AIG Licensure from Western Carolina University and took a Mindful Educator Essentials Course from the Mindful Schools. Additionally, Sullivan is currently pursuing her School Leadership Certificate through Appalachian State University.

As Asheville City Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Sullivan will now be invited to participate in a regional interview process.

Nine regional finalists will be selected amongst North Carolina’s 94,000 classroom teachers.

From the nine, the state’s Teacher of the Year will be chosen by a committee of professional educators as well as business and community leaders. The final announcement will be made in April 2020.

If selected as the state Teacher of the Year, Sullivan will spend the 2020-2021 school year traveling across North Carolina as an ambassador for the teaching profession.

We would like to congratulate all of our Teachers of the Year across Asheville City Schools:

●  Dacia Harris – Asheville High School
●  Sybil Jefferson – Asheville Middle School
●  Zachary Knox – Asheville Primary School
●  Alexandra Briggs – Claxton Elementary School
●  Shelley Haney – Hall Fletcher Elementary School
●  Kelli Madkins – Ira B. Jones Elementary School
●  Thomas House – Montford North Star Academy
●  Chris Gordan – School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville
●  Lynn Dingle – Vance Elementary School