Returning Roadmap to Success teacher Leia Gray is a 7th grade College and Career Readiness teacher at Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy. Ms. Gray was nominated by Impact Manager Summerlin Northrup to be one of our first teacher spotlights for the 2018-2019 school year!
When we launched Roadmap to Success as a pilot in five Dallas ISD CTE (Career & Technical Education) classes last year, Ms. Gray jumped right into the program and really made it her own. Each time I visit her classroom I am always impressed with her creativity and innovative spirit. The CTE class takes place in a computer lab, and rather than trying to keep students off the computers, she finds ways to incorporate technology into each Roadmap lesson. Whether students are filling out a Google document or doing a quick internet search activity or research project, they are engaged and actually look forward to her class and the Roadmap to Success content. It is rare to find a teacher that ticks all of the boxes from excellent classroom management to strong student relationships to engaging facilitation and content creation and enhancement. We are lucky to have Ms. Gray teaching the Roadmap to Success program! – Summerlin
What did you want to be when you were in middle school?
I actually wasn’t thinking about a future career when I was in middle school because it seemed so far away at the time.
Alma Mater: Oklahoma State University. Go Pokes!
What is your favorite college memory?
Meeting my very best friend, Maddie.
Did you always want to teach? If not, what led you to the classroom?
I wanted to be a teacher or an aerospace engineer in high school. I picked teaching because I have always liked to help people learn more, and I love teaching College and Career Readiness because I can help my students prepare for their futures.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I hope to continue making an impact in education and helping others.
Why do you think it’s important for students to have access to college and career readiness programs? How do you feel like the Roadmap to Success program has impacted your students?
It’s important for students because it helps to prepare them for the future, whether it is high school, college, or a career they might want to do. Roadmap to Success has a lot of good information about the different high schools that students can choose from. I think that part of the program has impacted my students the most, because they learn of all the different options that will help lead them in the right path to reach their future goals.
What is one piece of advice you would give your students about their futures?
Explore all the different options you have, and find something that you absolutely love and are passionate about. Don’t stress about finding something so soon. There are so many different opportunities out there.
