Tammy Forrest

Robert L. Crippen Elementary
New Caney Independent School District

Tammy Forrest is a fifth-grade dual language teacher at Robert L. Crippen Elementary in New Caney Independent School District, where she teaches all core subjects and specializes in mathematics for emergent bilingual students. A graduate of Lamar University, she has devoted 21 years to education, working with students in first, fourth, fifth and eighth grades.

For 10 of those years, Tammy served as an instructional coach, supporting teachers across multiple grade levels in strengthening math and science instruction. Her leadership extends to the state level as an Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) reviewer for the State Board of Education and through her work with the Texas Education Agency validating state assessments and reviewing curriculum resources.

Tammy is especially passionate about empowering emergent bilingual learners through high-engagement, hands-on instruction. In her classroom, students use manipulatives, real-world problem scenarios and purposeful academic talk to move beyond memorization into active collaboration. By prioritizing student discourse, tactile learning and data-informed instruction, she creates a supportive environment where all students gain the confidence and skills to tackle complex concepts in mathematics and across the curriculum.