to Ms. Carmen Garcia
Shenandoah's

2008-2009 Teacher of the Year ...

All children can learn! She strives to ensure that children are enabled with a curriculum that fosters literacy combined with a focused approach on building students’ strengths to improve upon their weaknesses, empowering them with confidence to reach individual goals with success.

At the age of 15, her love of horses and intense interest in horsemanship, led Ms. Davis  to her first encounter of teaching children.  Each summer, she taught riding to young campers. These experiences revealed to her the reward of helping children learn a skill, as well as the deep sense of satisfaction in seeing the impact this had in the development and nurturing of self esteem.  It was this milestone that led her to pursue a lifelong career in education.

Ms. Davis began teaching third grade in 1987. After obtaining a Master’s of Science degree in Education, from the University of Miami, specializing in Reading and Specific Learning Disabilities she became perfect candidate for the position of Reading Resource Teacher in 1991. Her love of reading, fueled by her profound belief that literacy is the most critical challenge facing educators today, directed her to obtain the position of Title I Reading Leader.  She has also lent her talents to our school by graciously serving as the coordinator of the Miami Herald Spelling Bee in Grades 1-5 and the Intensive Care Unit Tutorial Program for students in Grades 3-5.

Ms. Davis is actively a member of the Shenandoah Elementary Curriculum Committee and the School Improvement Plan Writing team.   In her spare time, she enjoys an active lifestyle as a triathlete which includes swimming, cycling, and running. She also enjoys sailing, hiking, traveling, and gardening.