Green Run High School literacy teacher Kelly Logue-Echols is a finalist for citywide Teacher of the Year.

Her 13 years of teaching experience have all been at Green Run High School as an English teacher, elective teacher and literacy coach.

She originally intended to pursue a law career and started studying for the bar examination. Within a month of working with students as a tutor, she realized her true passion was education.

“I teach because of my belief in growth, second chances, and the transformative power of education,” she said. “Entering the teaching field allowed me to be an active member of this change in my community.”

In addition to helping design a new freshman seminar course at Green Run, she is a teacher mentor who facilitates professional development at the school, said Principal Tennille Bowser.

“Kelly is a highly effective coach with teachers, and I also believe her work with students is exceptional,” Bowser said. “She builds amazing relationships with students and as a result they are eager to attend her bootcamps and frequently seek her out for help.”

Frances Fok, gifted resource teacher, said, “Kelly has a positive attitude that encourages teachers to collaborate with her. She works with teachers in all subject areas from English to NJROTC.”

Logue-Echols serves on the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Committee, and Green Run’s Instructional Leadership Team, School Planning Council and AVID site team.

She helped develop the school-wide Mark It Up initiative to promote literacy by building reading stamina, providing support, and enhancing critical thinking.

“Literacy awareness is teaching students how to engage with text, analyze new material, and ask questions regularly,” she said. “Noise, collaboration, and active participation are prompted by this new initiative.”

One of her highlights of teaching so far was working with a bright student who struggled to focus on his work and trust adults. With Logue-Echols’ help, Green Run became a second family to the student.

“Through years of struggle, conversations and refusing to give up, this student graduated with high marks,” she said, adding that the student now served in the Air Force. She keeps his graduation photo on her refrigerator as a reminder that teachers have the power to change lives.

“The world will one day be run by the students in my classroom,” she said. “I recognize the critical responsibility I have to each of them to foster and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning.”