Two Lee County Educators Complete High Impact Teacher Corps

As the school year came to an end, Orange River Elementary teacher Amy Johnson and San Carlos Park Elementary teacher Jasin Marth were not just finishing up the class they teach, but the class they were in. Both were members of the 2024-2025 High Impact Teacher Corps. Graduating earned them the designation of HIGH IMPACT TEACHER, which is reserved for exceptional educators who make a positive impact on student achievement.

“The High Impact process has developed my skills as a teacher leader, and improved student outcomes in my classroom and beyond,” Amy Johnson said. “Thanks to the instructional coaching component, I am able to impact classrooms that are not my own through collaboration, ongoing inquiry, and articulating best practices.

To even be selected for the program is an honor. High-impact teachers have shown statistically significant positive impacts on student learning in some of Florida's most struggling schools. Graduating means they have developed the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to improve student outcomes in classrooms beyond their own.

“There are many teachers who are doing a great job and not getting recognized,” Jasin Marth said. “I always felt like this, until the state looked at the numbers. I can tell you from all my experiences, that my numbers are better than most because of my relationships with my students. They know I care and want them to do their best.”

The HITC program, administered through the Florida Department of Education, is a yearlong professional development opportunity. HITC members participate in intensive learning sessions and work with facilitators to boost their skills. They then return to their schools and share their knowledge with fellow educators.

“I was able to identify what I was doing right and given the resources to pass on my practices to others,” Marth said. He teaches fifth-grade math and science at San Carlos Park. Johnson is a peer collaborative teacher at Orangewood, teaching fifth-grade science and math. They join four other Lee County teachers who graduated with the HITC Class of 2018 and one from 2023.

The School District is committed to seeing more teachers graduate from the High Impact Teacher Corps and sharing what they learn.