Office of Family and Community Engagement

The painful loss of her father, solidified Ms. Ashley Vangates’ career path and love of teaching. She conducts wellness assessments of her students to discover non-academic impediments to learning, and works to build caring-sharing relationships with parents and guardians. This knowledge along with data, helps her design and develop various learning modalities that have enhanced her students’ confidence, and in turn resulted in their learning gains on the state’s English Language Arts assessment. Ms. Vangates’ students participate in the learning process as if they were solving a puzzle or performing educational theater. Decorated microphones that allow students to proudly deliver their answers with self-assurance and confidence as well as exercise balls instead of chairs, that research shows improve concentration and focus, are found in her classroom. With her deep passion for mentoring and a determination to spur a metamorphosis in young girls’ lives, Ms. Vangates initiated a partnership with The Links service organization to create the Butter F.L.Y. (First Love Yourself) Mentoring Program. Ms. Vangates inspires her students to believe in themselves, uncover their abilities and never, ever give up.