The Martin County School District is proud to recognize Palm City Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Lexi Gray, who was recently featured on CBS12 News as part of their Teacher Feature series.
Ms. Gray, who was named the Martin County School District’s 25-26 Elementary Teacher of the Year, has spent 18 years in education, including eight years at Palm City Elementary. In the CBS12 segment, she shared why fourth grade is such a pivotal year for students and how intentional instruction helps them rise to new challenges.
In her classroom, Gray regularly uses the district’s Building Thinking Classrooms approach, which emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and student-led learning. Through this model, students work together to explore new concepts, often before formal instruction begins.
The approach supports a strong growth mindset, with students frequently engaging in fifth-grade level math while still mastering fourth-grade standards. Gray describes fourth grade as a transformational year, one that prepares students not only for the top of elementary school, but for long-term success.
The CBS12 Teacher Feature showcasing Gray recently aired and reflects the excellence and student-focused instruction taking place across Martin County School District classrooms! Watch the full segment here: https://cbs12.com/news/local/teacher-feature-martin-county-schools-2025-elementary-school-teacher-of-the-year