Ty’Nisha Armstead, 4th Grade Teacher, Cradlerock Elementary School

April 28th, 2016

Seasoned early education teacher Ty’Nisha Armstead embraced a new school system and new curriculum, teaching 4th grade for the first time, when she joined Cradlerock Elementary School this year. Armstead said she’s “loving” the 4th grade as she’s trying out new ideas, saying “This county is big on hands on and technology learning. I can experiment with technology and am getting things in order for years to come. To have Canvas, to have curriculum to choose from is awesome.”

Armstead was interested in coming to the HCPSS because she said, “I always heard great things about Howard County, about the educators, education system, resources.” She described her first impressions of the school system as “very positive,” saying “there are very high standards in Howard County” and “the support system is really strong here. I value that.” Armstead said, “The wealth of resources in this county is amazing,” including curriculum supports, supplies, professional development opportunities and the collegial atmosphere. She added, “I didn’t know what a paraeducator was before coming here. Having that person here to help is a blessing.”

Armstead knew at 12 years old that she wanted to be a teacher when she was a pre-counselor at a summer program. She has been an educator for more than a decade, both in the classroom and as a mentor teacher, mostly in Anne Arundel County, where she was educated. Even though she found the teaching support positions “rewarding,” she prefers being in the classroom because, she said, “I feel I’m more productive when I’m in classroom and can see kids growing everyday. I can leave work and think, ‘So and so didn’t get this two days ago and now they do.’ My day flies by in the classroom. I enjoy being with the kids. Someone’s going to have a fun day every day.”

Cradlerock Elementary School Principal Jason McCoy said Armstead “is bringing experiences in the classroom from another system and experiences as a mentor teacher, a very good combination of different perspectives. What I like best about her, even with that experience, is that she is so willing to learn and be very reflective. She has the characteristics of a lifelong learner and the recipe for a successful teacher. She brought a skillset and experiences, but came to Howard County to learn the culture of the HCPSS and Cradlerock, to seek out resources, to be open to ideas and feedback. As an administrator, that’s what you want in your teachers.”

Armstead is always looking to further herself professionally and explore opportunities. She dabbled in an administration master’s program at Goucher College and completed an early childhood education master’s at Towson University. She regularly seeks out professional workshops in the county. Down the road, she is interested in possibly becoming an interventionist “to focus on math or reading to better that craft. That way I am specializing and still working with kids directly and seeing a positive influence with that group.” After retiring from teaching, she could see herself opening a daycare center.

She enjoys working with young children, explaining “There’s no better career than an educator to know I can make a difference. I like the multiple roles of counselor, mom, dad. You’re everything, and I like that.” Before landing in the 4th grade classroom this year, Armstead taught 2nd and 3rd grade.

McCoy said Armstead “sets high expectations for her students. Her classroom has an atmosphere of learning and engagement, preparing them to be 21st century learners. She collaborates with others to ensure instruction is meeting the needs of all her students and fulfills our rigorous curriculum. But Ty’Nisha also smiles with the students, interacts with them, has discussions with them. She’s building relationships with them as well.”

Armstead wants her students to walk away this school year “knowing that I was here to help them be productive citizens. I want them to know that I’m their friend, I’m here for them and work hard for them.”