Dana Islas

Dana Islas has spent her entire 13-year teaching career with the Tucson Unified School District. For the past five years, she has been an English immersion teacher in a full-day kindergarten classroom at Pueblo Gardens Elementary School. She previously taught pre-kindergarten and is credited with creating a positive academic, social, and emotional environment for four- and five-year-olds.

In her current position, Mrs. Islas's collaborates with grade-level teachers to ensure that her small, diverse group of students has an enriching and developmentally appropriate education. She has established a strong partnership between home and school for students and families through home visits, parent workshops, and interactive communication.

Colleagues say that Mrs. Islas's respect for the intellect of young children is apparent in everything she does in the classroom. Each day begins with a mathematics investigations workshop, where students engage in activities that align with the strand that they are studying. In addition, students rotate through a 20-minute mathematics and science computer session every day. Mathematics is also woven into the daily class routine, including morning circle, question of the day, and snack time. Her instruction is guided by assessment.

Mrs. Islas engages in professional development that focuses on best practices and research. This allows her to bring mathematical exploration, reflection, and conversations to her classroom. She constantly finds ways to make learning accessible for all students, while focusing on National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Islas previously was a department editor for Teaching Children Mathematics, a journal published by NCTM. She is also a part-time consultant for Math Solutions, a company that offers professional development, books, and resources to improve mathematics instruction.

Mrs. Islas has a B.A.E. in elementary education from the University of Arizona and an English as a Second Language endorsement. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in elementary education.