Nikki McCarthy

McCarthy’s innovative teaching idea, “Learning Lab,” focuses on filling gaps in students’ education experience through the creation of an Action Based Learning Lab for her elementary school. The Voya grant will allow McCarthy to create designated spaces on campus to be used to aid in the development of necessary pathways in the brain for learning and retaining. McCarthy believes that by building a framework for learning that incorporates station rotations structured around vestibular development, visual-motor control, visual tracking, and sensory integration, students will be able to develop higher level thinking skills. These skills will ultimately fill foundational gaps that will help them progress at advanced levels through elementary school and beyond.