If you’ve watched your child struggle to feel connected to their classroom, you’re not imagining things. Research consistently shows that when students feel seen, heard, and invested in their own learning, everything changes. At Washington Middle School in Jamestown, New York, one fifth-grade teacher is proving exactly what happens when student voice meets family engagement—and the results are capturing attention across the district.
From Student To Teacher: A Full-Circle Journey
Ashley Cruz walks the halls of Washington Middle School with a unique perspective: she once walked these same halls as a student. Now in her sixth year with Jamestown Public Schools and her second at Washington, Cruz brings an intimate understanding of what it means to be a learner in these very classrooms. “Washington holds a special place in my heart because I once walked these same halls as a student and was inspired by many of my own teachers,” Cruz said. “My path to becoming a teacher was full of twists and turns, but with the support and encouragement of my former JPS teachers and my family, I never gave up on my dream.”
Now she’s paying that inspiration forward to her fifth-grade students, guiding them through what she calls the pivotal “middle school world”—a time of significant academic and social growth. Her passion stems from “helping young learners grow and realize their potential,” and she’s found creative ways to make that happen beyond her classroom walls.
What if students controlled their own learning AND families were partners? One teacher's classroom in Jamestown, NY shows what happens when both happen at once.
Student Voice At The Center Of Learning
Cruz’s classroom operates on a fundamentally different model: students aren’t just passive recipients of instruction—they’re active participants in shaping their education. Through student surveys, meaningful choice in learning activities, and weekly individual conferences, her students have real ownership over their educational journey. “Every year brings a completely different group of kids,” Cruz explained. “I am inspired by the kids’ ideas to try new ways for them to show their learning. All I have to do is plant the seed of an idea and let the kids run with it.”
This approach reflects what neuroscience tells us about engagement: when children have agency in their learning, their brains release dopamine and build stronger neural connections around the learning process itself. Rather than managing compliance, Cruz is building capability—and her students are responding.
Quote: Washington holds a special place in my heart because I once walked these same halls as a student and was inspired by many of my own teachers. My path to becoming a teacher was full of twists and turns, but with the support and encouragement of my former JPS teachers and my family, I never gave up on my dream. Once a Lobo, always a Lobo! Attribution: Ashley Cruz, Fifth Grade Teacher, Washington Middle School
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Bringing Families Into The Learning Circle
Perhaps most distinctive about Cruz’s approach is how deliberately she bridges classroom learning with family involvement. A highlight of this school year was a Thanksgiving family luncheon—students earned this celebration by meeting classroom expectations. But Cruz went further, using the event as a teaching opportunity: students crafted formal invitations and wrote thank-you letters, connecting real-world writing skills to a meaningful family moment.
Currently, her students are engaged in an independent reading challenge. After reading 30 books at their level and passing comprehension quizzes, students earn the reward of inviting a family member to lunch. “I like to find ways to invite families in for lunch with their child,” Cruz said—simple words that reflect a powerful philosophy: learning is stronger when families are partners, not spectators.
Washington Middle School Principal Tim Anderson sees this clearly: “Ashley is a vital asset to our building because she leads with both her head and her heart. Beyond her commitment to our tiered intervention teams and her leadership within the PLC, she has an incredible ability to connect with families and bring them into the learning process.”
Key takeaways
- Personalized Learning Model: Washington Middle School teacher Ashley Cruz uses student surveys, choice, and weekly one-on-one conferences to give fifth-graders ownership over their education.
- Family Engagement Results: Students earn family lunch rewards by meeting classroom expectations—thanksgiving luncheons and reading challenge celebrations bring families into the learning circle.
- School-Wide Influence: Cruz serves on school-wide intervention committees, sharing her innovative approach to benefit all students at Washington Middle School in Jamestown, NY.
Beyond One Classroom: School-Wide Impact
Cruz’s influence extends beyond her own students. She actively serves on both Tier 1 and Tier 2 committees—groups dedicated to school-wide incentives and student interventions. “I collaborate with colleagues to discuss school-wide incentives and support student interventions,” she said. “I enjoy the problem-solving process and helping come up with creative solutions. It is important to me to be active in making decisions that best support all of our students and staff.”
Her willingness to share what’s working in her classroom suggests this model could spread. For parents everywhere, the lesson is clear: when educators invite families into the learning process and give students real voice in their education, everyone benefits. The question isn’t whether this approach works—the evidence is in the students who are thriving. The question is: what would happen if every classroom embraced this philosophy?
Quote: Ashley is a vital asset to our building because she leads with both her head and her heart. Beyond her commitment to our tiered intervention teams and her leadership within the PLC, she has an incredible ability to connect with families and bring them into the learning process. Attribution: Tim Anderson, Principal, Washington Middle School
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
This is what happens when we treat children as capable participants in their own learning rather than passive recipients of instruction. Ashley Cruz’s approach at Washington Middle School embodies exactly what Learning Success has always believed: when we give students agency, involve families as partners, and connect learning to what matters most, children thrive. The system that waits for kids to struggle before intervening misses the opportunity to build capability from day one. Your child’s brain is designed to learn, grow, and adapt—and classrooms that honor that potential, like Cruz’s, prove it every day.
If you’re ready to bring more of this student-centered, family-engaged approach into your own child’s learning journey, the Learning Success All Access Program offers a free trial that includes a personalized Action Plan—and you keep that plan even if you decide it’s not the right fit.
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