When Linda Aldridge was pulled from a meeting and told she had received a National Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service she was not even aware that she had been nominated. "I felt so honored to be chosen," she said, "I was really surprised."
When you look at Aldridge's accomplishments, however, her colleagues say the honor was not a surprise at all.
ALDRIDGE HAS BEEN teaching at Dogwood Elementary School in Reston since 2000 and for the past three years has launched and run programs aimed at helping the students of Fairfax County better their reading skills.
"My job is to work with children and teachers," Aldridge said.
Her accolades include working with first-grade students identified as being at high risk for reading failure. She also mentors reading coaches, started Family Literacy Night at Dogwood Elementary and ordered and organized more than 13,000 reading books for her school.
One of the programs Aldridge oversees, Reading Recovery, is designed specifically for first-grade students. "Eighty percent of children are fine on their own," Aldridge said, "and the other 20 percent have more specific needs."
Each day Aldridge analyzes how each specific child is progressing and makes a reading plan according to their needs. "There is one way that is the best way for each child," she said, as she works with each individual to teach them a strategy for reading.
Aldridge also works with other teachers in a team approach, sharing and collaborating with them for the best result. They meet for an hour every week. Aldridge knows that both she and her fellow reading coaches have a "big responsibility" and that working together is essential for success. Aldridge describes leadership as "helping people understand what they need to do," not just merely telling them what to do.
"I don't [know] what we would do without her. She took me under her wing and nurtured me and helped me. She is so valuable to Dogwood and is such a big part in the kids lives," said Amy Andrews, a colleague of Aldridge's for the last two school years.
IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, Dogwood Elementary School caught was destroyed by a fire. Everything was lost, but "there was a tremendous outpouring from the community," Aldridge said.
Aldridge then took up a new mission. She researched, retrieved and organized more than 13,000 books for the new school facility. She made sure that each child read at the right level and was given the right books according to that level. Aldridge made labels for every book which helped the teachers with a systematic way of advancing the children.
Another of Aldridge's projects is Family Literacy Night, designed to get parents involved in their children's reading endeavors.
"Parents need to understand that they all have stories to tell their children. That is the base of literacy," Aldridge said. "Children particularly love to hear stories and every family has a story to tell."
The 2002-2003 school year was the first full year that students and teachers have spent together in the new Dogwood Elementary School building. Aldridge believes that people are just glad to have the school back as a place in the community.
Ricki Harvey, principal of Dogwood Elementary for the past four years, nominated Aldridge but kept it a surprise. "She is truly an absolutely remarkable teacher," Harvey said. "She goes way above and beyond for our kids."
The night she received the award, Aldridge said she felt slightly nervous. "It was such an honor to be with [U.S. Rep.] Jim Moran," Aldridge said.
Aldridge plans to continue the literacy program, but wants it divided by grade level so that it becomes more personal for the students and their families.
"Working at a place like Dogwood, where the kids are so wonderful, really gives me the energy to keep going. Kids are our future and it's worth it," Aldridge said. "It makes you feel special everyday just by the smiles on their faces."