August 14, 2024, 10:00am
Today, the National Book Foundation announced the 2024/25 recipients of the National Teacher Fellowship, a program, only in its second year, “that supports and celebrates 6th-12th grade teachers using innovative methods to make reading for pleasure a part of their students’ school day experience.”
“The NBF Teacher Fellowship recognizes educators connecting young people with excellent literature and encouraging a lifelong love of reading,” said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, in a press release. “This initiative is an essential component of our education and access programs at a time when access to diverse books is more important than ever. We are especially grateful to our selection committee for identifying a dedicated group of educators who are nurturing deeper connections with books, authors, and fellow readers.”
This year’s cohort represents educators across six states—Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, and New York, and subject areas including AP Language & Composition, English for Speakers of Other Languages, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies; these teachers will serve a total of more than 875 students in the 2024/25 academic year. Fellows will receive a $2,000 budget for books, as well as a $3,000 stipend upon completion of the program, during which they will “develop or extend an initiative that promotes reading for pleasure in their classroom; incorporate National Book Award-honored titles into their curriculum; and participate in a professional learning community with their cohort, including an in-person convening in New York City.” The Fellows were chosen by a selection committee comprised of writers and educators Kenneth M. Cadow, Joanna Ho, Amanda Nowlin, Siva Ramakrishnan, and Dr. Precious Symonette.
Congratulations to this year’s NBF Teacher Fellows:
Shanel Adams
Detroit, MI
Detroit International Academy for Young Women
6th-8th grade English Language Arts
Shanel Adams is a teacher and literacy advocate committed to girls’ education, multicultural curricula, and project-based learning. She teaches English Language Arts at Detroit International Academy for Young Women and runs Progressionista, a book club for preteen girls, at local libraries.
About the project: Woven by Women will weave together the tradition of needlework and storytelling that has brought women together globally by introducing middle school girls to books featuring diverse female protagonists and pairing it with needlework craft projects such as crocheting and quilting. The project will culminate in presentations that will include book summaries, written reflections, and a cultural quilt that will convey the rich tapestry of multicultural womanhood.
Nikia D. Garland
Indianapolis, IN
Arsenal Technical High School
11th & 12th grade English Language Arts & AP Language & Composition
Nikia D. Garland teaches British Literature and AP Language & Composition at Arsenal Technical High School. She has taught a wide range of ELA classes at the secondary, international, and higher education level. Nikia is also a Terry Fear Holocaust Educator in Action recipient, Mark Schonwetter Grant recipient, Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellow, a Fund for Teacher Fellow, a Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, Chair for the Indiana Teachers of Writing Conference, and President-Elect for the Indiana affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English.
About the project: In a year-long pursuit of building literacy entitled, “Game of Tomes,” students will select books for the classroom library, help organize and promote a schoolwide book fair, engage with others about what they are reading, create books talks to be shared on social media, and engage in reading for the simple joy of it.
Brendan Gillett
Brooklyn, NY
International High School at Prospect Heights
9th & 10th grade English Language Arts
Brendan Gillett is an English teacher at the International High School at Prospect Heights. He and his students write multilingual picture books, craft hand-made poetry chapbooks, design multicultural food blogs, and dramatically portray scenes from Ms. Marvel. He thinks of himself as the world’s foremost Scott Pilgrim scholar and has yet to be proven wrong about this. He is always happy to talk books, comics, or games, unless he’s napping to cope with his busy schedule. Brendan lives in Brooklyn, NY with his husband and their adorable cat, Pigeon.
About the project: Brendan’s students—all of whom are recently-arrived immigrants and English Language Learners—have weekly reading periods across classes. Students choose books from a classroom library, and while they read, hold student-teacher mini conferences about their books and reading, and how they are generally. They track their progress with a personalized bookmark, and when they finish a book, summarize it by answering the questions, “Would you recommend this book to others? Why?” They share what they’ve read with the class and help each other choose their next text, building a community of fellow readers in their new environment.
Gabriela Goitía Vázquez
North Miami Beach, FL
Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School
10th-12th grade English Language Arts & ESOL
Gabriela Goitía Vázquez teaches English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), AP Human Geography, and AP Spanish Literature at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School. In 2022, Ms. Goitía Vázquez was selected as Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Rookie Teacher of the Year. Ms. Goitia Vazquez holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications & Comparative Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, and currently studies Computing in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her passions lie in literacy and language education, participatory curriculum, and education in emergencies and reconstruction. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing Brazilian zouk and eating copious amounts of sushi.
About the project: Verses and Voices is a project aimed at high school English Language Learners and struggling readers at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School. Its purpose is to merge poetry and podcast creation to delve into the exploration of identity. Through interactive workshops, students learn poetic forms, literary devices, and recording techniques. They compose original poems reflecting on personal experiences, cultural backgrounds, and self-discovery. These poems are then transformed into podcast episodes where students narrate, interview, discuss, and reflect on their works—fostering language acquisition, critical thinking, and self-expression.
Kristin Mitchell
Orlando, FL
University High School
9th-12th grade Reading Instructional Coach
Kristin Mitchell is from Orlando, FL and has been a teacher for eight years. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with her bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and her masters in Reading Education. Kristin believes that every student should always have a fun and engaging reading experience no matter the grade level. Reading holds a special place in Kristin’s heart and will continue to be a central focus in her classroom.
About the project: Kristin’s project will focus on building out a physical space where students can come to read at their leisure, stocked with a collection of award–winning and relatable titles. This project promotes student centered learning by way of student choice. Students will have the choice of what they are reading, how they want to read it (traditional, digital, audio), and which project-based activity they want to use to build a deeper connection with and understanding of their book.
Shelby Oshiro
Wai’anae, HI
Wai’anae Intermediate School
7th & 8th grade Social Studies
Shelby Oshiro is a social studies teacher at Wai’anae Intermediate. She recently received her National Board Certification and is currently pursuing her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa. Her research interests are Critical Theory, Multicultural Education, Education for Social Justice, and Philosophy for Children. Her passion is developing social studies curriculum and pedagogy that empowers students to question what it means for them to be a citizen in a multicultural society.
About the project: Shelby’s project illustrates how learning with books can be rigorous as well as fun and engaging, and shows there is magic and value to children’s picture books, graphic novels, and fiction novels that can reach students in ways nonfiction texts cannot. In hopes of raising students’ reading comprehension and writing skills, schools sometimes will hammer and drill nonfiction texts down students’ throats that are way above their reading levels. However, there is power in the world of fiction and various reading levels. Shelby’s project helps demonstrate the need for both nonfiction and fiction in schools and in students’ lives.
Beatriz Ramos Jimenez
Pahala, HI
Ka’u High and Pahala Elementary School
9th-12th grade Science
Originally from Spain, Beatriz Ramos Jimenez now lives on the Big Island, Hawaii. As a secondary science teacher and Academy Lead, Beatriz is driven by a passion for science, inspiring curiosity in her students. Alongside scientific inquiry, she’s equally enthusiastic about sharing the magic of reading and the wonders of nature. Whether diving into a book or exploring lush landscapes, Beatriz blends literature with the beauty of the outdoors. Her goal is to spark that same passion in her students, bridging the gap between books, science, and the natural world.
About the project: Beatriz’s project aims to fuse science education with storytelling to promote reading enjoyment and scientific literacy. Through themed units based on Next Generation Science Standards, students will explore literature that intertwines with scientific concepts. Activities include whole-class readings, discussions, independent assignments, and hands-on projects like creating podcasts. Books, including National Book Award–honored titles, will be chosen for accuracy, relevance, and literary merit, promoting diversity. Collaboration with school resources and community partners enhances the project’s impact. Assessments include reading logs and projects, fostering a lifelong love for reading while nurturing critical thinking and cultural inclusivity in scientific learning.
Ellie Roberts
Paonia, CO
Paonia K-8 School
7th & 8th grade English Language Arts
Over 24 years, Ellie Roberts has taught 5th to 12th grade English and Social Studies. She currently teaches in a small, rural K-8 school in western Colorado, where coal mining, organic farming, and ranching are the main industries. Ellie graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in History and an MA in Reading from Adams State University, and later attended a Gilder Lehrman Institute at New York University and NEH programs at University of North Carolina Asheville and University of Virginia. Ellie’s focus is instilling the love of reading in students at a time when instructional decisions are made based on quantifiable data.
About the project: Students participate in an Independent Reading Challenge where they set individual quarterly reading goals, self-select the books they will read, and engage in quarterly book projects. This reading program focuses on developing a love for books and reading for pleasure that will carry into their adult life as a lifelong learner. Middle grade learners practice skills like independence, leadership, and empowerment through the Independent Reading Challenge.
