Brandi Costa

Brandi Costa of Rockton has been teaching third graders at Rockford’s McIntosh Elementary for two of her eight years of teaching. Brandi is committed to being a champion for her students, but also to teaching them how to be champions for themselves and each other. Principal Erin Salberg shared that Brandi never blames a child or the family when there are academic or behavioral challenges. “Instead, she reflects on her own practices and asks what she can do differently to reach both the student and their family, aiming to make a positive and lasting difference.” When she noticed how many families were unable to attend parent/teacher conferences, Brandi added options such as video or phone calls for those with transportation issues and morning meetings for those working different shifts. This year, 90% of families attended. Student attendance is another concern, as 49% of McIntosh students display chronic absenteeism. But thanks to the relationships and trust Brandi cultivates, her class has a 98% attendance rate. Brandi has high expectations, but she believes in students’ potential and in her ability to provide a safe, encouraging environment where they can be challenged and grow. She says she is “committed to having my students leave my classroom not only with the knowledge they need to succeed in life but with the emotional intelligence and social skills to thrive in society.” Students have jobs and ownership in her classroom. She encourages students to make good choices and to be kind, modeling empathy not just with them, but throughout the building. She gets to know her students and their families through constant communication and attendance at their activities. When one student was struggling to attend school because of the parent’s transportation and daycare issues, she stepped in and started walking the student home from school herself. In a recommendation letter, Brandi’s principal also wrote that, “there are few educators who truly grasp the complexities of working with students from backgrounds of high poverty and trauma, but Brandi does so with unmatched sincerity and commitment … she exemplifies everything our profession should stand for.”