For nearly three decades, Jamye Gaston has been one of the very first teachers to welcome students into the School District of Lancaster. Now in her 27th year, all of them in Pre-K, Jamye Gaston has been a constant presence in the Burrowes Elementary community. As one colleague shared in her nomination, “Jamye has been a staple of the Burrowes community for several years. From the minute you walk into her classroom, you can feel that there is a warm and connected environment, where students work together collaboratively and collectively.”
That welcoming atmosphere is the foundation of Jamye’s teaching. At just four years old, her students discover that they are capable of much more than they imagined. Jamye’s approach blends warmth with structure, giving students a safe space to try, to make mistakes, and to grow to take ownership of their learning.
Jamye is known for making learning engaging and hands-on. Her students don’t just read about the world, they experience it. She takes them outside to tend the school garden, plant flowers, and observe butterflies and insects up close. These experiences help students connect what they learn in the classroom to the natural world around them.
Inside the classroom, her students explore through project-based learning. From egg drop experiments to collaborative building challenges, every activity encourages problem-solving and critical thinking. Jamye’s lessons spark curiosity and build confidence, setting students up for success in kindergarten and beyond. As one colleague noted, “Students are excited to be in school, and that is highly attributable to Jamye’s excitement to teach them and help them grow.”
What sets Jamye apart is her ability to balance high expectations with high support. Her students are expected to demonstrate respect and responsibility, whether in the classroom or walking through the halls of Burrowes. Visitors often notice that her Pre-K students are among the quietest in transitions, modeling positive behavior for others in the building.
But those expectations are never without care. Jamye checks in with students daily and builds strong partnerships with families. She intentionally greets caregivers during arrival and dismissal, offering updates and encouragement. Her approach ensures that each child feels supported at home and at school, creating a strong foundation for future success.
Jamye teaching also extends through community partnerships. She frequently invites outside organizations into her classroom, including Snapology, Lancaster Science Factory, and Wellness Works. These partnerships give her students unique opportunities to see learning in action and connect classroom lessons with the larger community.
Beyond her classroom, Jamye is deeply valued by her colleagues. She is quick to make a joke, but also quick to notice when someone needs encouragement. “She is an asset to the Burrowes community,” her nomination shared. “Pre-K is foundational for students, and Jamye is foundational for Pre-K.”
Jamye grew up in a family of educators, her mom, aunts, and cousins were all teachers. Inspired by their example, she studied at Millersville University, earning both her bachelor’s degrees in elementary and early childhood education and later a master’s degree in early childhood education.
She credits her mother as her greatest influence. “She was firm but caring, and her students knew she expected a lot from them, but also that she loved them wholeheartedly,” Jamye recalls. That balance of structure and love now defines her own approach.
Outside of school, Jamye continues her passion for nurturing growth. She is an avid gardener and spends summers raising butterflies. Just as she cultivates plants and supports butterflies through their transformation, she guides her students through their earliest steps in education.
Over nearly three decades, Jamye has watched generations of students grow. When asked what she loves most about her work, Jamye points to the excitement of her students. “Pre-K is the best group to work with,” she says. “I love the students’ excitement to learn new things and the pride they have when they discover they can do things that challenge them.” She fondly calls them her “babies” and has celebrated with families as those students graduate from McCaskey, head to college, begin careers, and even start families of their own. Staying connected with families long after students leave her classroom remains one of her favorite parts of teaching.
Through collaboration, empowerment, and high expectations, Jamye embodies the values of the School District of Lancaster. Her classroom is a place where students feel a sense of belonging, where families feel supported, and where colleagues find both humor and friendship.
We are proud to celebrate Jamye Gaston for her remarkable dedication, her creativity in the classroom, and her decades of impact on Burrowes Bobcats and the entire SDoL community. Thank you for all that you do Jamye!
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