This is the latest in our “Weston Wednesday” series, spotlighting the winners of the 2024 Judy Weston Awards for Inspired Teaching. Follow along each week to learn more about the impact these educators are making in the Montclair Public Schools.
Alison Campbell – aka Ms. Ali – cares deeply about every student in her 5th grade English-Language Arts classes. In some ways, it’s hard to miss: She often wears a signature baseball hat that shouts LOVE in all-caps. But in other ways, her compassion is more subtle.
Parents who nominated Ms. Ali for a Weston Award noted how she engages with students who are struggling to complete an assignment. She motivates reluctant readers, but also challenges kids who excel in her subject area. They said she encourages students to read widely across forms and genres and fills her classroom with diverse books so that each student can see themselves reflected on the page or understand someone else's story. Ms. Ali is committed to ongoing equity initiatives at Northeast and encourages individuality and belonging.
Ms. Ali knows what makes her students tick. For example, at parent-teacher conferences, parents noticed how well she knew and understood their child's challenges, personalities, and interests.
She has inspired many Montclair students to grow their appreciation for literature – even poetry. One student’s family said they will never forget the evening they heard from award-winning author and poet Kwame Alexander at a Montclair Public Library event she invited her class to. They said: “The moment [our son] walked into Ms. Ali’s classroom in September was a life-changing moment for him and our family in all of the best ways. Ms. Ali has been a gift.”
Ms. Ali is kindness, creativity and compassion all rolled into one person! (And let’s not forget how one student described her – “just chill.”) She connects with students, supports them and finds ways to help them shine. She is the kind of teacher that parents and kids cross their fingers and toes hoping they’ll be lucky enough to learn from. For all these reasons, Alison Campbell is an inspired teacher.
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