Morgan Barth
Elm City College Preparatory Elementary

“We are a team and a family. I work here because I know that everyone does whatever it takes to give our kids the love, care and top-quality instruction they need. Before I came to Achievement First, I had nightmares about what ‘my kids’ would face when they moved to other classes and grades. Now I’m surrounded by phenomenal teachers. I’m inspired every day by the creativity I see in one colleague’s writing class or the thoughtful conversations about social justice in another colleague’s class. We all end the day feeling the good, healthy exhaustion of knowing that we helped all our kids climb the mountain to college.”

Position: Principal
Previous Positions:
Academic dean at Elm City College Preparatory Middle
Fifth-grade teacher at Elm City College Preparatory Middle
Teach For America corps member (Mississippi Delta region)
Claim to Fame: At Elm City College Preparatory Middle, Mr. Barth’s fifth-grade English Language Arts classes showed two-and-a-half years of growth and a 20 percent gain in reading on nationally normed assessments.
Undergraduate Degree: Williams College, B.A. (history)
Graduate Degree: National Louis University, M.Ed.

Linda Fitzgerald
Amistad Academy Middle

“After almost 20 years in the classroom, I feel like I’m still growing thanks to all the professional development that happens here. I love teaching, and I don’t want to get stale. Working in an environment of talented teachers also motivates me to push myself more. This is a place where good teachers get the support they need to become great teachers.”

Position: Fifth- and sixth-grade math teacher
Previous Position: Fourteen years as a teacher at private and public schools in Waterbury, CT
Proudest Moment: According to Ms. Fitz, as her students and colleagues call her, her move to teach at Amistad Academy Middle was the "best personal and professional" decision she could have made. She is very proud of Amistad Academy Middle for its commitment to the REACH values and for being named Connecticut's 2006 Title I Distinguished School after posting the greatest academic gains of any middle school in the state.
Undergraduate Degree: Sacred Heart University, B.A. (sociology and secondary education)
Graduate Degree: Southern Connecticut State University, M.Ed.

Tisha Markette
Amistad Academy Elementary

“What I love most about Achievement First is that teachers are constantly pushing themselves to raise the bar on their instruction. Teachers are always asking themselves and others how they could make their lessons better to ensure EVERY child in the class is successful.”

Position: Principal
Previous Positions:
Principal-in-residence at Elm City College Preparatory Elementary
Reading and writing teacher at Amistad Academy Middle
Principal intern at Amistad Academy Middle
Claim to Fame: Ms. Markette is such a strong believer in the mission and quality of education at Achievement First that both of her sons attend Amistad Academy.
Proudest Moment: Ms. Markette is extremely proud of her teachers and students. By the conclusion of Amistad Academy Elementary’s first year, 99 percent of students were at or above grade level in reading, and in math, over 75 percent of students scored higher than 85 percent of kindergarteners in the nation.
Undergraduate Degree: Florida Atlantic University, B.S. (accounting)
Graduate Degree:
Sacred Heart University, M.A.T.
University of Connecticut, Sixth Year Degree (education administration)