Avondale Middle School names Teacher of the Year

Ms. Amy Thornton, the Avondale Middle School Teacher of the Year, is passionate about teaching math. “Her students don’t just learn math, they experience it,” said Principal Maryanne Moriconi while talking about Thornton’s selection to represent the best of the best teachers at the middle school. Thornton received her Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in Mathematics from Central Michigan University and her Master of Education, majoring in Curriculum Instruction and Leadership from Oakland University. She has been teaching at Avondale Middle School for 20 years.

Thornton has taught thousands of 6th and 7th graders, sharing her knowledge of math while helping her students understand its real-world relevance. She uses visible thinking, practical demonstrations and hands-on activities to engage her learners. Paying particular attention to formative assessment data and student reflections, she is able to adjust her curriculum delivery to ensure student engagement at an appropriate pace for a variety of learners while maintaining fidelity to the content.

Understanding how important the home/school connection is to a student’s success, Thornton keeps parents informed of individual learners’ struggles and accomplishments as well as communicating expectations for learning and student growth. She considers her teaching responsibility to go beyond the curriculum, mentoring students as they navigate their middle school years, showing genuine interest in their concerns and guiding them in their actions. As the lead teacher in planning for the school’s 6th grade Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports initiative, she developed lessons designed for exploration of student voice and delivered during the students’ homeroom period.

Outside of the classroom, Thornton is committed to the school community as a whole, helping out at events and with activities to promote a positive school experience for the student body, her colleagues, and the parents. “Amy has been a lighthouse of support and leadership at Avondale Middle School, she is very deserving of this honor,” said Moriconi.