If home is where the heart is, then the Jennings School District is fortunate that Alicia Davis’ heart belongs to Jennings.
Davis has taught at Northview Elementary School for three decades. Her value to the district is one of the reasons she is one of the 2015 Excellence in Education Award winners from the St. Louis American Foundation.
“Alicia Davis is the heartbeat and soul of Northview Elementary school. She has been in teaching for over 30 years and is a staple in the Jennings community,” said Vanessa Howard, Davis’ former principal at Northview.
“The parents trust her because she has taught many of the family members. Ms. Davis works tirelessly to make sure that her students understand all content areas. She is a mentor for young teachers and she enjoys sharing her knowledge. It was an honor to be Ms. Davis’ principal.”
Throughout her teaching career, Davis has helped to develop one child at a time and to motivate them to go above and beyond their learning potential. The motivation and needs of her students drive her teaching methods.
“By creating and providing a student-centered classroom environment, learning occurs through participation in meaningful, interesting and engaging activities,” Davis said. “I believe that the true aim of an education should be to teach students how to think and become independent learners.”
A native of St. Louis, Davis attended St. Louis Public Schools and graduates from Central High School. She earned master’s degrees in educational administration from both Lindenwood and Maryville universities, and a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Lindenwood College. She also completed both elementary education certification (K-8) and special reading certification (K-12) from Harris-Stowe State College (now University).
“I have the fondest memories of Mrs. Vivian Deshields, my kindergarten and first grade teacher at Carr Elementary School,” Davis said. “Her gentle patience and enduring spirit has helped me to strive for academic achievement. Mrs. Deshields took the time to offer a host of learning opportunities and activities that can be used today.”
Davis began her career as a teaching assistant for the St. Louis Public Schools, then taught for five years for the St. Louis Archdiocese. She wanted to give back to the community that gave her a rich educational experience.
And then Davis fell in love with the Jennings School District. She taught for 13 years before becoming an instructional specialist for two years, then returned to the classroom. Davis has taught fifth and sixth grades for the past 15 years. During her career, Davis has shared her expertise in a variety of endeavors. She has served on the Professional Development Committee, is a curriculum writer for social studies, is a mentor to new teachers, is an after-school tutor and supervisor, and is a teacher in the Catch-Up Room.
“I found joy in the challenge as I moved up grade levels,” Davis said. “Each year would allow me to refer back to my own educational experience and in some cases, use strategies that helped me to master the skills taught helped my students gain skills.”
Motivation and drive of her students also pushes Davis to find special ways to celebrate the accomplishments of those who struggle, but eventually grasp the lessons. She invited a special group of young achievers out to dinner, accompanied by then-principal Howard.
“These young men had been struggling to improve their grades and their reward was to go out to dinner,” Howard said. “She paid for the young men’s dinner, and they explained the pride that they gained by improving on their academics. The students shared with me that this was the first time they were treated to dinner by a teacher.”
The Excellence in Education Award is one of several Davis has received during her career. She has been recognized for professional dedication by the St. Louis Science Center, which honored her as a 2010 Mathematics and Science Shining Star, and by the Special School District, which named her a Special Ambassador in 2005.
“It is my goal to offer a quality education that would enable the learners that I serve to pursue their future endeavors with the necessary academic skills and confidence to compete and be successful in whatever path they choose for themselves,” Davis said.
