She’s been interviewed by the media including Cheddar News and Canadian Broadcasting News. National Board certified and award-winning teacher, Claudine James was very successful using the project-based learning model to engage and inspire her students which led her to receive many awards including the 2019 Henry Ford Innovative Teacher Award. On 12/1/2020, Ms James started posting grammar lessons on TikTok in order to reach virtual students who weren’t watching the videos she posted, and now she has 6 million TikTok followers from 84 countries: ESL learners have learned basic grammar skills needed for language acquisition, others have received academic refreshers, and many study for tests such as the ACT. Her videos also motivate and inspire current/future teachers. Students, not just in her class, but throughout the district, actively engage and participate in video production. Ms. James’ classroom now expands around the world, plus she’s helping to remind other educators how much they are needed in the profession.

Past/current students are educated through her innovative and creative teaching methods and future students can’t wait to be one of her students. “Education is the most powerful weapon used to change the world.” After becoming an influencer on TikTok, her influence in improving the teaching profession skyrocketed. She has become the mentor and inspiration to thousands of teachers who reach out for guidance and help. Many say they duplicate her lessons or teaching methods or just show her lessons to their students. One follower stated, “All of my linguistic professors use your videos; they love the clarity of your lessons.” Her reach is vast and varied and reaches various people – globally.

This combination makes Ms. James’ ELA lessons truly innovative. Using social media to educate is a learning concept students eagerly embraced. Her goal, increasing students’ literacy scores, has become a reality for many. Each new video she produces provides the unique opportunity to enhance not only her students’ learning, but students, old and young – all around the world. She even has thousands of followers on YouTube, FaceBook and Instagram. One TikTok video posted on 1/11/23 now has 99 million views; it’s been shared 270K times, and 675K followers saved the video. The simple lesson was about when to use “a” or “an”. A top comment with 40K likes states, “She thinks she’s teaching a class, but she’s really teaching the world.” Ms. James loves sharing her knowledge around the world; this embodies innovative means of digital influence that leads to real-life action.

-College Board, the organization that administers the ACT test and AP classes, released an article, “Five TikTok Famous Teachers Everyone Should Follow” and @iamthatEnglishteacher was listed as #1. This success was followed by being named the TESOL (Teachers of English and Other Languages) Teacher of the Year for her state, the 2023 Grammar Educator of the Year – a national award under the National Council of Teachers of English and featured in the NYT.