Davis High Language Institute director named an Outstanding Teacher of America

The Davis High School Language Institute’s Lindsey Bird has won recognition as an Outstanding Teacher of America, one of five named for 2015 by the Carlston Family Foundation from nominations by former students.

She will receive a $15,000 cash award and a grant of $5,000 for Davis High. The Language Institute, which Bird directs, serves teens entering Modesto City Schools as new immigrants or refugees.

Bird developed cultural units for the students to help them learn U.S. customs, holidays and common phrasing. She teaches world geography with an emphasis on developing the English skills of students, many of whom come from the Middle East.

“Over the years, our students have represented 30 countries and 16 native languages,” Bird said via email. “Education is the key to these students defining and pursuing their American dream. I am thrilled that so many of them now consider higher education to be attainable and a major factor in making their goals a reality.”

Teachers are nominated for the award by former students currently enrolled in, or graduated from, a four-year college or university. The program had 100 nominations this year from throughout California.

Students must focus on the specific life-changing impact their teachers have had on their lives, notes the Carlston announcement. Most of the nominators are first-generation college students who overcame obstacles and who might otherwise not have attended college had it not been for this teacher, it adds.

The selection process involves interviews with seven or more former students, school administrators, teaching colleagues and the nominees. Ten to 15 finalists are selected and observed in their classrooms.

“The teachers selected as finalists this year each teach in extraordinary situations. Their schools, in general, are rather low performing, with the exception of their students, who consistently seem to outperform other students and who are highly motivated to go on to higher education,” said Tim Allen, executive director of the Carlston Family Foundation.

“In so many cases, the students to whom I spoke mentioned they never considered college as a choice, yet they were able to pass the required courses, be accepted to great universities and, most important, were able to compete academically,” he said.

When interviewed during the nomination process, Bird said, “In all of my classes, I have a basic, underlying philosophy, and I realize every day that I have to draw upon an ever-growing bag of tricks.”

She listed her priorities: “My first goal is to get to know everything I can about each of my students. Second, I want to challenge each of them and push them so, eventually, they can serve as examples for the next group of students.”

Not every program tries to urge on these students, who often come with traumatic histories and a wide range of academic skills. Too often, lack of language skills keeps them from showing their abilities and leads to them being discounted as students.

“I cannot let them feel that way in my classroom,” she said.

“Being involved in the program for the past several years has given me a glimpse into a world I could have never imagined. It has brought what is happening on the other side of the world directly into my life and this community. I will not let them fail, and I think they know this. Receiving this award was a complete surprise and a tremendous honor and means so much more because it was initiated by my former students,” Bird said.

The students got her message. Her nomination included this from a former student: “Ms. Bird was not a very easy teacher. She pushed us hard and demanded a lot of work. She was relentless in her quest to help us.”

The Carlston Family Foundation 2015 Outstanding Teachers of America represents schools in Modesto, Huntington Park, La Puente, Union City and Arcata. The foundation will honor the winners at a Nov. 14 awards ceremony in Mill Valley, with winners joining a foundation educational symposium.

This story was originally published May 31, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Davis High Language Institute director named an Outstanding Teacher of America."