TAMPA, Fla. — Dr. Michele Lambert loves teaching English at Leto High School.
But even more than that, she loves making her students feel safe and helping guide them on their journey for success.
And that love is returned, evidenced by Dr. Lambert receiving a record number of nominations to be a Bay News 9 A+ Teacher.
What You Need To Know
- Dr. Michele Lambert is this week's A+ Teacher
- Lambert teaches English and is the Dual Enrollment teacher at Leto High School in Tampa
- Want to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here
Dr. Lambert, whose been at Leto for 25 years, also is the school’s Dual Enrollment Teacher. She heads the Collegiate Academy, where here high school students can graduate with their 2-year college degree.
Some of her seniors earn Bright Futures and scholarships to major universities.
“I am very passionate about them and their journey,” Dr. Lambert said. “I lived a very easy life. My parents both went to college, and so I never had the same concerns that they do, so I decided I wanted to give back more than just teaching English, even though I love teaching English, I get paid to do what I love."
Dr. Lambert is generous with her time, helping students during lunch periods, before and after school and even on weekends. She helps students with their college applications and helps prep them for their SAT and ACT exams.
Leto Principal Larissa McCoy calls Dr. Lambert “the relationship builder.”
"She's offering them tutoring during lunch, every single day,” McCoy said. “And I can pay her, and she doesn't turn her paperwork in because it's not about the money for her. She really, truly, genuinely cares about where our students are able to go."
And it’s the students she really cares about, as evidenced by her last question during her interview: "I hope this story is more focused on them than me because it's really them.
“They're the stars of the show."