Greetings Fellow CLUE Parents,
This school year has begun with a newly merged district, a drastic school-wide move from APEX to CLUE, and a more clearly defined focus on CLUE instruction. Thus, the CLUE Department is now distinguished by elementary grades (K-5) and middle grades (6-9). And as I will now serve as your child’s CLUE teacher, I wanted to provide each of you with some background on my teaching career.
More specifically, before I began this school year as your child’s middle grades CLUE teacher, I have spent the past fourteen years as an English educator within the Legacy Shelby County Schools district. The last six years of my career have been spent teaching high school students with a four year focus on teaching British Literature to seniors and the other two teaching freshman. (Additionally, I am also Highly Qualified in English/ Language Arts, and I have also taught Advanced Placement (AP) English for Grade 12 with a focus on Literature and Composition.) Furthermore, during my professional career, I have taught both standard and honors freshman English as well as the same levels for middle school English (grades six and eight) in addition to both eighth grade American History and sixth grade World History; I have also acquired the six hours necessary to work with Gifted/APEX students. In fact, the inception of my teaching career began in August of 1998 at the former Southwind Middle School- the very site of today’s Lowrance School. So, this present teaching experience is truly filled with a sense of homecoming!
Additionally as a classroom teacher, my philosophy of education is rooted in a strong emphasis on empowering my students to value education; the significance that both reading comprehension and written proficiency have on their lives is a focus that is integral to their future successes in life. And while daily classroom instruction
is a pivotal aspect of student development, it is equally imperative that today’s students seek to heighten what they learn within their classrooms. As a veteran educator, my professional objective has always been that we as individuals should never cease in our ongoing quest to become life-long learners. Thus, my role as a member of the district’s SPED/ CLUE Department will serve the dual purpose of empowering my students to become more invested within their education in addition to strengthening student content mastery so that students can actualize their strengths within the classroom; and this is especially true within the areas of critical thinking/ reading. I look forward to working with your child this school year in our quest to embrace the Latin mantra of Carpe Diem (Latin for Seize the Day).
Sincerely,
Mrs. Leigha R. Walton-Bayne
The SCS Grading Scale is as follows:
A=93
B=85-92
C=75-84
D=70-74
F=Below 70
Remember that extra-credit does not exist within my
classroom, so please remain proactive in all that you
undertake this school year and consistently strive to
adapt and grow in order to become your best self!
