HOPE — Kayla Vaughn, an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher serving students at Hope Public Schools, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Teachers in the Nation by Flashlight Learning through its LumiNation initiative.
This national recognition highlights educators whose students demonstrate exceptional academic growth. Vaughn earned this honor after her students showed some of the highest gains in the country between beginning-of-year and middle-of-year benchmark assessments using the Flashlight 360 program.
Flashlight 360 is used in Hope Public Schools’ ELL classrooms to help Multilingual Learners strengthen their speaking and writing skills. The platform provides students with structured tasks and personalized feedback from trained educators, allowing them to refine their communication skills and build confidence in both academic and real-world settings.
This marks the first year Hope Public Schools has implemented Flashlight 360 as part of its instructional strategy for Multilingual Learners. The program supports preparation for the ELPA21, which measures students’ ability to read, write, speak, and listen in English. Success on this assessment can allow students to exit the ELL program and transition fully into general education coursework.
Vaughn, who teaches grades 5–8 at Beryl Henry Elementary and Yerger Middle School, is currently in her fourth year with the district and her second year in ELL instruction.
As part of this recognition, Vaughn joins LumiNation—a national network of educators recognized for driving meaningful student growth through innovation, commitment, and instructional excellence.
Hope Public Schools congratulates Ms. Vaughn on this outstanding achievement and thanks her for the impact she continues to make on students across the district.