What is the Renaissance National Honor Roll?
The Renaissance National Honor Roll program is designed to help guide educators to data targets that research has shown result in greater student growth through implementation strategies. It is available to teachers, librarians, and school administrators.
There are eight monthly challenges published August through March. The challenges are like bite-sized chunks of professional development to help educators improve implementation and get more out of the programs. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate student growth throughout the year. The final step of the process entails data submission for educators to show their achievement of the targets. Those who meet the targets will be recognized through an achievement kit that includes customizable digital student certificates, a classroom pennant, and a school banner.
Meet some of our Renaissance Honor Roll educators!
Magaly Pina
3rd grade teacher
Palmira Mendiola Elementary School
Texas
My name is Magaly Pina and I'm from Texas. This is my 4th year teaching elementary. I enjoy coming up with creative and rigorous ideas for the classroom. Star Assessments have help me close the performance gap. Using the Star data, I was able to implement interventions with my students. I love participating in Renaissance National Honor Roll because I enjoy learning from different teachers. Fun Fact: My students and I dance our stress away.
Magaly Pina
West Walker
7th Grade Core, ELA, ELD, Reading Specialist
Earle E. WIlliams Middle School
California
I have been an educator for nearly 20 years and have a M.Ed. I have been using AR and STAR Assessments that entire time. I have taught 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th grades in mostly Title 1, ELL, or G.A.T.E. environments. I have achieved tremendous success in students obtaining reading growth and building the resiliency and confidence my struggling readers need. If given the choice of a "free time" activity, be it a movie, computers, drawing, or reading: They quickly evolve to choosing "reading" each and every year! The most reluctant reader has been able to "buy in" to reading practice (and the resulting growth) due to the data shared with STAR Assessments. Full classes are able to grow multiple months, and many multiple years, due to the screening reports and progress monitoring we are able to achieve due to the fidelity of STAR Assessments. I participate in National Honor Roll because it is important to promote and model student success and best practices.
West Walker
Constance Roop
Third Grade Teacher
Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy
Ohio
I am a 3rd grade teacher for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. This year I think our biggest success as a class was that all the students were really interested in reading. We had many students finish the entire Wimpy Kid series. We have all been cheering on one specific student who has almost read 100 books this year. My class has participated in the Honor Roll program for many years. It is a great way to set a goal and work everyday a little bit towards that goal. Fun Fact: At the beginning of the school year, my students named our class The Blue Acers. Our favorite saying is, "Let's go!"
Constance Roop
Yolanda Gonzalez
5th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary School
California
I've been teaching for 28 years and am a Reading Specialist; however, using Accelerated Reader has been a game-changer! Literacy is everything and I'm proud to help students feel successful every day with A.R.! My greatest success has been the knowledge that, with the help of Accelerated Reader, I have been able to transform students from passive, bored readers to empowered, excited National Honor Roll recipients! I participate in Renaissance National Honor Roll because it empowers students to overcome past reading failures by learning proactive reading skills and strategies to gain control of their reading and academic success. Fun Fact: My students love to hear me read aloud and we are ending this school year with The Wizard of Oz. I am dramatic so they love to hear the voices and characterizations that I bring to life as I engage them completely in one of our most endearing literary classics!
Yolanda Gonzalez
Cynthia Green
2nd grade teacher
Payne Elementary
Alabama
I am a 2nd grade teacher at Payne Elementary School in Selma, Alabama. I have been teaching for 12 years at Payne. I love what I do - teach, motivate, encourage, inspire. My greatest success with Accelerated Reader is a reluctant reader at the beginning of the school year enjoying reading on his own. I participate in Renaissance National Honor Roll to celebrate students' success. I also like the tips and collaborating with other great leaders. Fun fact: A student found the Michael Jackson book on myON Reader and everyone started reading it every week. Then they started searching for other singers.
Cynthia Green
Belinda Escamilla
2nd Grade Teacher
Arnoldo Cantu Elementary
Texas
I have been a teacher for 11 years. I have taught 1st grade to 3rd grade, I am currently teaching 2nd grade. I believe it is the perfect grade because you get kids that are reading, you just need to help build up their comprehension level. I have noticed over the years that by challenging my students to reach an Accelerated Reader goal, it has helped with their fluency. Once every six weeks our students are rewarded for reaching their AR goals. By being able to generate reports that allow me to know my students different levels, I am able to plan accordingly. I want to keep up to date with so many new and exciting things and National Honor Roll allows me to do just that.
Belinda Escamilla
Tatyana Rodriquez
1st Grade Teacher
Saint Jerome Catholic School
Florida
My name is Tatyana. I teach First grade to most amazing kiddos! I love to instill in them a deep love of reading. Once a week we do story time where I read a book to the class. My greatest success with Accelerated Reader was getting all of my students to reach their goal every quarter and watch them become avid book readers. There were times when I couldn't do a lesson because they all decided to read together. A good friend of mine told me about National Honor Roll. This year I really focused on motivating my students to read by using the different strategies discussed in the Honor Roll challenges..
Tatyana Rodriquez
Kimberly McKinley
3rd grade teacher
Sophia P. Kingston Elementary
Alabama
I have just completed my sixth year of teaching. In my spare time I enjoy reading and traveling. My greatest success with Accelerated Reader is watching my students begin to understand how to read their own data, set their own goals, and push through their own obstacles to achieve their reading goals. I participate in Renaissance National Honor Roll to help promote my students' success. Fun Fact: Once a week we do class shout outs to the growth that has been shown during the week on Accelerated Reader.
Kimberly McKinley