Amy English, Third Grade Team Leader, Bellows Spring Elementary School

December 14th, 2016

For Bellows Spring Elementary School Third Grade Team Leader Amy English, it’s all about camaraderie in the quest for academic excellence. English embraces the county, school system and her school as a community member, HCPSS alumna, teacher and parent. English describes Howard County as “home,” and as a staff member who helped open Bellows Spring in 2003, she calls the school “family.” She continued, “The school has a great sense of community, and my daughter has thrived.”

After college, English decided to return to HCPSS as a teacher because she “knew the quality of education was top notch. I wanted to be a part of that. My work ethic is there because Howard County pushes you to be your best by constantly trying to keep up with best practices.” Her HCPSS ties grew even deeper when she met her husband–Greg English, an HCPSS alumnus and art teacher–when they opened Bellows Spring together.

To English, opening Bellows Spring was an opportunity in “having an impact of setting up the culture of a school.” She explained the team worked hard to create an inviting and innovative environment, saying, “There’s a sense of collaboration here as the staff continually try new things to benefit the students.”

English embraces teaching because she can “wear different hats to support my kids in multiple capacities.” She feels this is especially important in third grade as students transition into the intermediate level with new pressures, such as letter grades and PARCC testing. English said, “I like giving my students the foundation of confidence with the big picture.” She encourages a growth mindset in her classroom throughout the year through activities and student-led goal setting.

On top of her dedication as a classroom teacher, she has developed a collaborative team model that’s been replicated in other grades at the school. Most notably, her third grade team meets weekly after school for lesson planning, so “we all have the same goals for our students. We differentiate instruction but are always on the same page,” English said. Additionally, as third grade team leader, English sees her role as a “support system for each team member,” a liaison between administration and her teachers, a sounding board for ideas and more.

English sees all of her Strengths play out in her educator roles. With “consistency,” “discipline” and “analytical,” she likes maintaining structure, setting high student expectations and working out the best plan for her classroom and team. “Communication” and “empathy” round out her Strengths, indicating her interest in transparency and strong relationships.

Bellows Spring Principal Carol Hahn appreciates English as both a teacher and school leader, saying, “Amy is just an inspirational teacher. She can really engage her students and target what interests them. She challenges them in an encouraging way. Also, she’s an outstanding team leader. Her team collaborates on data discussions, so the children can reach their greatest potential. She’s just one of those go-to people. She has great relationships with parents, the community and within the school.”

English has dedicated her entire 21 years of teaching to Howard County schools. She began her career at Forest Ridge Elementary School before joining the opening school team at Bellows Spring. Her educator roles have included teaching second and third grade, and serving as a GT resource teacher and a third grade team leader. She has participated in numerous leadership roles over the years, from mentor teacher to green school committee co-chair. Her personal favorite has been running the school variety show for 14 years, enabling her to encourage her students to shine in countless creative ways.