Kristen Chitty, of Columbus Signature Academy Fodrea Campus, received the 2017 Edna V. Folger, Outstanding Teacher Award. Kristen was honored as a part of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center on March 1, 2017.

A colleague described Kristen as an irreplaceable asset at Fodrea, someone who touches the lives of students, parents, and peers on a daily basis. She is a relationship builder who collaborates with K-six classroom teachers, focusing on what is best for ALL students, and does whatever it takes to ensure that every student is successful.

Ms. Chitty designs strategies to address the academic needs of her students who receive special education services. In fact, 95 to 100 percent of her students pass the state assessments. A parent shared this, “Mrs. Chitty researched and integrated cutting-edge instructional practices designed for individuals with dyslexia and helped our son become a confident reader who is now on the honor roll.” She received the 2013 ARC of Bartholomew County Teacher of the Year Award.

Kristen’s zeal for learning is contagious. She is a role model to other educators who use her planning methods and instructional approaches to engage their students. She has a knack for explaining difficult concepts in a manner that all students can understand - - commonly known as the “Mrs. Chitty method.”

She coaches the Math Bowl Team at Fodrea, helps with the boys and girls basketball teams, regularly attends extra-curricular activities, and still has time to teach college courses and volunteer at Love Chapel.