Assistant Principal's Letter

Having taught at JICHS since we opened our doors, I am a firm believer in the effective teaching model we implement for student success in both character development and academic preparation. As I work to train new teachers and help returning teachers refine their craft, I will repeat many of the same mottos I imbibed during my early days at our school: bell to bell, wall to wall, every name every day. Students engaged in the subject want to learn. For those who have gaps, we have structures in place such as math lab, reading lab, and study skills curriculum to help them succeed as well. Though rigorous, our school is a place where all students can learn and all students advance! Whether it be an AP English class or a ninth grade algebra I class, we desire to see students achieve their full potential through effectively taught classes that integrate character in preparation for the students’ college days to come! Thank you for the privilege of teaching your students!

Background

Miss Doherty received a graduate fellowship to complete her master’s in curriculum and instruction from UCCS. She also has her professional teaching license from the state of Colorado. She took courses in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Her bachelor’s degree is from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas where she was the highest ranking graduate in the division of language and art and summa cum laude with her major in English and minor in History. She was in the honors program there, Alpha Chi (honors society) and Sigma Tau Delta (English honors society).

Miss Doherty has taught courses throughout the English department from ninth grade English to Advanced Placement English. She served as English lead teacher for four years and assistant principal two years. In addition to writing alignment documents and curriculum maps, Miss Doherty recently planned out the English curriculum 7-12 to include a writing intensive focus for students. She has trained in Six Traits of Writing, Step Up to Writing, AP English and direct instruction. She also participated in the Rocky Mountain Writing Project; this six week project at the University of Northern Colorado now qualifies her as a teacher consultant to help educators integrate writing into their classes. Before her tenure at JICHS, Miss Doherty served as a resident director at Indiana Wesleyan University working with 200 first year students in a female residence hall. She also spent six months in the former Soviet state of Estonia as part of the International 4-H Youth Exchange and returned home to report on her experiences there to over 10,000 youth around Colorado. Her hobbies include running, skiing, scrapbooking pictures of her nephews, traveling and of course reading and writing!