Christa Kinsey, who teaches 3rd grade at City Springs Elementary/ Middle School, was selected as the first winner of the Baltimore Curriculum Project’s (BCP) Award of Excellence in Direct Instruction Reading. The new award, which comes with a cash prize of $2,500 to the winner, was presented at City Springs Elementary/Middle School’s end-of-the-year staff party on June 13.
The new annual award, endowed by an anonymous donor, recognizes a BCP teacher who excels at teaching Direct Instruction reading, the proven, nationally recognized curriculum at the heart of the BCP curriculum. Ms.Kinsey masterfully used Direct Instruction during the 2022-23 school year with her students, moving them from performing nearly a year below grade level to on-grade level and ready for 4th grade. Her class’s MAP growth showed 80% of her students met or exceeded their growth goals (50% is the norm).
Direct Instruction is an effective tool for all teachers, and in the hands of a master teacher like Ms. Kinsey, student growth can be awe-inspiring. Christa has embraced the Direct Instruction tenet that every child can learn if taught well. She does exactly that and teaches her students to become confident, successful readers while creating a classroom environment that is positive, fun, and rigorous.
Just as impressive is the kindness and care she shows each student. “Ms. Kinsey has a loving heart and gift for always knowing how to best meet her students’ emotional needs,” adds Dr. Rhonda Richetta, Principal of City Springs.
I’m honored to be recognized and receive this award and look forward to continuing to grow using Direct Instruction. With the support of exceptional coaches at City Springs and consistent feedback, I have learned to teach the Direct Instruction curriculums we use confidently and enjoy doing so. Direct Instruction allows me to provide explicit, guided instruction to my students in a fun and engaging way.
She adds that her students took pride in their learning this year and were dedicated to meeting the personal and academic goals they set throughout 2022-23.
Congratulations, Ms. Kinsey!
About Direct Instruction
With Direct Instruction, teachers use carefully engineered and thoroughly field-tested lessons to guide learning. Students learn at their own pace and customized level. Through frequent assessments, BCP teachers and instructional coaches use real-time performance data to place students in flexible groups based on individual needs for more help or more enrichment.
About Christa Kinsey
- Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Salisbury University
- Masters in Reading and a Reading Specialist certification from Loyola University
- Started teaching a City Springs in 2015
