A chance to come back to where it all started was the key to success for social science teacher Aisha Ahmed. A Phoenix graduate and substitute at Rock Ridge since 2021, Ahmed’s presence in the halls never faltered, a large part of why she was awarded the honor of LCPS “New Teacher of the Year.”

Following department fixture Danielle Donovan’s departure halfway through the 2022-2023 school year, Ahmed had the daunting task of taking over her U.S. History and AP Psychology classes. While any abrupt change in instruction can be difficult to navigate, preparing students for a heavily weighted College Board AP exam was one of many added stressors she had to face.

This hectic introduction left Ahmed more than prepared to make this school year her own. “A lot of last year was just survival, and once I got my own room and got my own kids, from the very beginning of the year it was easier to figure out,” Ahmed said. Stepping up to sponsor the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society, as well as teaching the majority of the U.S. History sections this year on top of World History II, Ahmed had her work cut out for her. But her focus remained the same: supporting her young students. 

“I think Colin [Pendergast] and I have had to do a lot of trial and error and figuring out what works, especially with different groups of students,” Ahmed said. “A lot of the stuff that will work with one of my classes won’t work with his, so [oftentimes] I will see what they preferred and give them several surveys [with questions like] ‘How do you prefer to learn?’”

Beyond classroom insight, Ahmed strove to be someone her students could always lean on as a trusted adult. “Everybody I know who became a teacher always did it for the impact that they have on the kids,” Ahmed said. “It’s definitely an honor to see that other people see the time that I’m putting in before school and after school, trying to work with kids one on one who have maybe not had that previously.”

Recognizing her position as someone younger than her teaching peers, Ahmed’s ability to relate more to her students has guaranteed a smooth class period. “I just try to see most students as people first and then get to know them,” Ahmed said.  “Figuring out how each kid works and learns best has been a big part of my learning path this year, particularly interacting and finding how to reach some of the kids who have maybe felt a little bit more left out or left behind in previous years.”

Ahmed will be honored at the April 23 school board meeting.