ReportWire

Tag: A-Plus Teachers

  • A+ Teacher shares love of the arts with students

    A+ Teacher shares love of the arts with students

    [ad_1]

    HOLMES BEACH, Fla. — Beth McIntosh has been a teacher for 34 years and has spent the last nine at Anna Maria Elementary School. She attended that school growing up and now teaches art and music classes there.

    What You Need To Know

    • Beth McIntosh is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • She attended Anna Maria Elementary School and has been teaching there for the last nine years

    • McIntosh teaches art, music and movement classes and she leads the theater productions put on by the students

    • Would you like to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here

    “Being a student here and then coming back and being a teacher here, it’s pretty awesome,” said McIntosh.

    Spectrum Bay News 9 walked the halls with McIntosh, and she showed her students’ artwork displayed throughout the school.

    “They recognize their artwork, and they feel a part of something. That’s always important and it’s part of why we do what we do,” said McIntosh.

    McIntosh teaches art, music and movement classes and she leads the theater productions put on by the students.

    “That’s the most thrilling thing for me and the most emotional thing for me is to see the kids just light up wherever they are, in the art room, the music room, on the stage,” said McIntosh.

    McIntosh says she loves watching her students find their creative spark and feel comfortable highlighting their work.

    “It’s the best feeling in the world to see that and their little faces lit up and proud of themselves and happy that they’re on the stage,” said McIntosh.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • New Port Richey teacher turned author helps students thrive

    New Port Richey teacher turned author helps students thrive

    [ad_1]

    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher has spent 15 years as an educator. Courtney Burkett works with students in every grade level at Marlowe Elementary School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Courtney Burkett is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • She works with students in every grade level at Marlowe Elementary School

    • Burkett is also an author. She has written two books and her third is coming out next month

    • Want to nominate an A+ Teacher? Click here

    She has worked there for less than a year but has already made a huge impact.

    “Because she’s committed to the work that’s before her and because our kids matter to her, and it shows every single day in what she does,” said Rayann Mitchell, the Principal at Marlowe Elementary.

    Burkett is the Behavior and Academic Intervention Specialist at the school. She works with students one-on-one and in groups to create plans to help them be successful.

    “If I can help somebody or help my fellow colleagues [with] figuring out what’s best for the student academically, then I’m all for it, and to be honest with you they just have always had my heart,” said Burkett.

    Burkett is also an author. She has written two books and her third is coming out next month.

    “That’s called “Down With Pens” and that’s about student empathy, teaching children how to have empathy towards adults, which is something that I feel is important,” said Burkett.

    Her books are based off of her experiences helping students with their behavior and academics. She loves teaching, and seeing their smiling faces and growth makes it all worthwhile.

    “It reminds you to keep doing what you’re doing. This is meant for you. This career is the right career. And give it another 15 years,” said Burkett.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Hernando teacher’s 40-year career spent at same school

    Hernando teacher’s 40-year career spent at same school

    [ad_1]

    HERNANDO, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher has spent her entire career at the same school. Martha Brown teaches 5th-grade math and science at Hernando Elementary School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Martha Brown is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • Brown teaches 5th-grade math and science at Hernando Elementary School

    • She has been teaching at the school for 40 years

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    She has been teaching at the school for 40 years. In that time, she’s left her mark on thousands of students.

    Brown said she pictured herself becoming a teacher when she was very young.

    “I lined up all of my animals on my bed and I talked to them, and I wanted to be a teacher from a very young age. And if I had to do it all over again, I would. I love what I do,” Brown said.

    She said she loves building relationships with her students year after year.

    “The kids are amazing. When the light bulb goes off and they understand something that’s a difficult concept, it just makes it all worthwhile,” Brown said. “And then when they return after being back to school. It’s just a blessing.”

    Brown said she’s now teaching the children of students she had years ago. 

    “I now have in my classroom this year, I have three parents where I now have their children this year,” Brown said.

    She went on to say, “Even though the generations have changed, they’re still kids. They still have that desire to learn. They want structure. I love what I do, and it’s hard to see that it may come to an end at some point. I can’t do it my whole life.”

    The students, staff and parents at Hernando Elementary said they hope that Brown continues teaching for years to come.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Electrician turned A+ Teacher helps students learn trades

    Electrician turned A+ Teacher helps students learn trades

    [ad_1]

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher pursued the career he’s in now after an injury in 2020.

    Brandon Szymanski hurt his harm in a snowboarding accident and couldn’t continue being an electrician. He transitioned to a career in teaching trades to students.

    What You Need To Know

    • Brandon Szymanski transitioned from an electrician to a teacher 

    • Szymanski is the building trades instructor at Dunedin High School and leads the construction technologies program

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    He’s the building trades instructor at Dunedin High School and leads the construction technologies program. 

    “We focus on electricity and framing, roofing, all these different things,” said Szymanski. “All the projects you see around me are things built by the students.”

    Over the summer, he taught at a summer camp at the school aimed at introducing different careers to students. 

    “We’re just trying to come up with new intuitive ways of getting them interested in the trades, working with their hands,” said Szymanski.

    During the school year, he works with his students to make sure they have hands-on experiences in different trades so they can find a career path to pursue.

    “I know every single student. I know what they want to do, and I try to help them achieve those goals,” he said. “I use my professional career before I came here and all my connections to really help these students get their foot in the door and communicate to employees exactly what these students are capable of.”

    Szymanski is teaching them the technical skills they need but also life skills.

    “I don’t want them to just find a job,” he said. “I want them to be five years down the road. I want them to be thinking about their electrical license with the state or opening a business or starting a real estate investment group.

    “I want them doing something that’s for them and not just to survive.”

    He says he’s looking forward to the new school year starting in two weeks. 

    “I can’t wait to see what ideas we get out of the students this year,” he said. “And what creations we can do.” 

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • A+ Teacher spends summer helping students practice reading skills

    A+ Teacher spends summer helping students practice reading skills

    [ad_1]

    SEMINOLE, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher went back to her roots this summer at Osceola Middle School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dorene McNulty has been a teacher at Osceola Middle school for more than 20 years
    • SAhe loves teaching reader to her students
    • Now she is a case manager at the Pinellas County school

    Dorene McNulty is now a case manager there. She has been a teacher at the school for more than 20 years and spent 12 years as a reading teacher.

    “Reading is in everything, which I tell them all the time. Every single subject, you have to be able to read,” said McNulty.

    She helped kids practice their reading skills over the summer through Pinellas County’s Summer Bridge program. During the school year, McNulty is a case manager at the school. She helps students with special needs create plans for the future.

    “I like that I’m able to write a plan and try to help those students that have those needs. Try to help them meet those needs, setting goals, working with them. These are your goals. Talking to them about how they’re progressing,” said McNulty.

    Her goal is to help her students pursue a path forward toward something they’re passionate about.

    “You try to find that interest, something that will bring them back to school. Something they want to come to school for and then remind them [that] in high school these are the things you get to do also so then they’ll have those skills when they get older and they can apply that in their real life,” said McNulty.

    McNulty says she’s looking forward to continuing that mission and watching the progress the students make from the beginning of the year to the end.

    “It’s amazing. It just fills your heart. You get to see that their light comes on, they get bright, they’re proud of themselves. I’m proud of them. It’s a really sweet moment,” said McNulty.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Largo special needs teacher mentors and supports students

    Largo special needs teacher mentors and supports students

    [ad_1]

    LARGO, Fla. — Adrienne Hill, the Varying Exceptionality case manager at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School, says she’s always had a passion for working with children with special needs.

    She teaches them unique skills in her role, and Hill says her aunt inspired her to pursue this career. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Adrienne Hill is the Varying Exceptionality case manager at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School
    • She has been teaching at the school for five years

    • Hill says she has always had a passion for working with special needs students

    “She showed me how much compassion and how much care,” Hill said. “And she showed me the end product later once her students started coming back telling her how much they have grown and how much they’ve changed, I was like, ‘OK, I’m hooked,’” said Hill.

    She’s been teaching at the school for five years and says she loves it.

    “I am a student at heart all the time, so I’m always learning,” she said. “And each year with a new set of kids, we get a new set of things to learn.”

    Hill is also the “Girlfriends Mentor” — she mentors and supports girls at the middle school and helps them in different areas of their lives. She had that support growing up and said that’s why she wanted to be involved in the program.

    “My mom was excellent, but she fell ill, so it was hard to be somewhere with me all the time,” Hill said. “So I come in with these young ladies and there are times they have orchestra performances and mom can’t make it. She’ll send a text message, an email, and I’ll show up.”

    She acts like a second mom for many of her students and loves watching them grow throughout the school year.

    “I hope they learn that they always have someone to be by their side, that they always have someone who is going to encourage them,” Hill said. “And for this year, our target has been for them to be able to self-advocate.”

    Do you have an amazing teacher in your life?

    Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Marine biologist turned teacher helps students love science

    Marine biologist turned teacher helps students love science

    [ad_1]

    DAVENPORT, Fla. — This week’s A+ Teacher started her career as a marine biologist.

    Kristen Aanerud-Smith has worked at Sea World and The Florida Aquarium. She spent 16 years in that field and now she teaches fifth grade science at Davenport Elementary School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kristen Aanerud-Smith is a fifth grade science teacher at Davenport Elementary

    • Smith has worked at Sea World and The Florida Aquarium
    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    “I show a lot of pictures in the class of what I used to do to kind of get them excited about things that they might not see in everyday life,” said Smith.

    Smith said she was inspired to get into marine biology when she got a book about sharks for her 10th birthday from her dad.

    “He was kind of very instrumental in getting me to follow my dreams,” said Smith. 

    This is her sixth year teaching and her second at Davenport Elementary. She loves being able to incorporate hands-on activities into her lessons like watching caterpillars become butterflies and taking care of a vegetable and herb garden. 

    “The hydro garden was funded through a few grants that I was able to get,” said Smith.

    In her previous role, Smith says she learned about grant writing and that has helped her create new experiences for her students.

    “They’re just really getting a lot of awesome hands-on learning that they can’t necessarily get in the classroom,” said Smith.

    Smith is bringing together her knowledge from both careers to help her students thrive.

    “My goal is for them to do their very best every day for themselves,” Smith said. “And to be happy and to be positive and to not only have that in my classroom, but to take that out into the real world.”

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Inverness teacher inspires students and fellow teachers

    Inverness teacher inspires students and fellow teachers

    [ad_1]

    INVERNESS, Fla. — Holli Herndon has a passion for training other teachers and helping her students succeed.

    She is the Behavior Specialist at Pleasant Grove Elementary School.

    What You Need To Know

    • Holli Herndon is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • Herndon is the Behavior Specialist at Pleasant Grove Elementary School

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    “Most of the kids that I work with, they just need somebody in their corner. Sometimes they haven’t had that person rooting for them to help them get through the things that they need to get through or to learn strategies that they need to be successful,” said Herndon. 

    She’s been at the school for two years and already won Teacher of the Year. In her role, she meets with students in groups and one on one. She also meets with teachers to come up with plans for individual students.

    “We’re helping not just to build academic skills but we’re also building character for students and we’re setting examples as role models of who they can be and it’s our job to set the bar high and help them achieve what they didn’t even know was possible,” said Herndon.

    Herndon started her career in education in 2008. She is focused on helping not only students thrive but also teachers.

    “There’s some teachers who don’t even know how incredible they are yet and I take that as something that I need to do to light their spark and keep them going,” said Herndon. She went on to say, “I feel like it’s important for me to go be the voice of Citrus County to stand up for my teachers.”

    Herndon visited Tallahassee this year to speak with lawmakers about statewide education initiatives and learn why certain policies are in place.

    “I just want to move education forward so by going and meeting people and understanding why they make the decisions they make, I might be able to give them a piece of information they don’t have,” said Herndon.

    She says her goal is to improve education overall and part of that mission includes training teachers.

    “We have all chosen this because this is a job of the heart so when I’m walking around working with teachers, we all have the same goal and that is to impact students. And we’re here for each other and it creates a community and a network. And that’s no matter what school you go into you’re going to find that,” said Herndon.

    Everything she does within education comes down to helping students thrive.

    “I want to empower them. I want them to know that there is no age limit to how successful they can be in anything. A child is never too young to do great things,” said Herndon.

    Herndon is currently finishing up her dissertation in educational leadership.

    Do you have an incredible educator in your life? Nominate them to be featured as an A+ Teacher by filling out this form.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Odessa teacher helps students learn a second language

    Odessa teacher helps students learn a second language

    [ad_1]

    ODESSA, Fla. — Maria Luna-Dupont says becoming a teacher was something she always wanted to do.

    She’s living out her dream now at Starkey Ranch K-8 School teaching Spanish to middle school students. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Maria Luna-Dupont teaches Spanish at Starkey Ranch K-8 School in Pasco County

    • Luna-Dupont said she believes being bilingual can lead to more opportunities

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    “Since I was a little one, I always wanted to be a teacher,” Luna-Dupont said. ”I always helped my classmates.”

    Luna-Dupont said she started to learn English in kindergarten while growing up in Mexico. She also said maintaining her new language was a challenge at times. 

    “The problem is when I finished college, I didn’t have time to practice my English,” she said. “I forgot it. Everything was there but when you don’t practice, that is the reason I’m telling you I want my students continuing to speak and practice Spanish.” 

    Luna-Dupont said she believes being bilingual can lead to more opportunities, so she’s hopeful her students will continue to learn the language. She’s doing her part to help them do that.

    “I try to give them tips that helped me a lot when I was younger to be learning another language,” she said.

    Luna-Dupont said she loves watching the growth her students make throughout the school year.

    “They are always telling me, ‘Oh Senora Luna, I heard a song and I was able to understand it.’ So at this point they are able to be using all these vocabulary words,” said Luna-Dupont.

    This is Luna-Dupont’s third year teaching at Starkey. She started out volunteering at another school helping students who spoke other languages.

    “I really enjoy to be teaching this language to my students and to be sharing my culture with my students as well,” said Luna-Dupont.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Bradenton teacher helps students plan next steps

    Bradenton teacher helps students plan next steps

    [ad_1]

    BRADENTON, Fla. — Kashante Mays is in her sixth year teaching at Southeast High School in Bradenton.

    It’s her 10th year of teaching.

    She teaches English and she’s the Avid Coordinator, a program that helps students make a plan for after graduation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kashante Mays is this week’s A+ Teacher

    “Students get the opportunity to apply for scholarships, learn about different colleges, different careers,” said Mays.

    Mays takes her students on trips so they can see college campuses. This year, she planned a trip where they visited four universities in South Florida. They were able to see what campus life is like and explore where they could continue their education after high school.

    “They were super excited just to see kids on campus studying with their computers and just doing things that we require them to do in class they got to see,” said Mays.

    The students also got to learn about possible future careers on the trip.

    “Getting the chance to see STEM careers and knowing about them and getting to use the tools that they actually use. They were excited to do that. As well as the colleges. They went to FIU and they fell in love,” said Mays.

    She helps her students learn the material they need to graduate, and she wants to inspire them to have goals for the future.

    “Whether that’s graduating from high school, whether that’s graduating from trade school, graduating from college. Whatever your goal is, you can do it and just be the greatest at it,” said Mays.

    Do you have an A+ Teacher in your life? Tell us more through the nomination form on the right side of this page.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Polk County reading coach drives students’ success

    Polk County reading coach drives students’ success

    [ad_1]

    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Renard Thomas wears many hats within Polk County Public Schools.

    He’s the reading coach at Auburndale Central Elementary and recently he started driving kids to and from school to help with the bus driver shortage.

    “I did that because I wanted to reduce the number of school bus referrals that we had at my school,” Thomas said. “So I did it to help with discipline as well as pursue my dream as well.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Renard Thomas, a reading coach at Auburndale Central Elementary, has jumped in as a bus driver this year

    • Thomas said it has helped him build stronger relationships with his students

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    He said he always wanted to become a bus driver, so when the district needed more, he stepped up. Thomas said it has helped him build stronger relationships with his students.

    “It has positively impacted my students. They come to school, they’re happy. When I pick them up, they’re happy and smiling when I get off the bus,” said Thomas.

    He said being happy helps them learn. When he gets to Auburndale Central Elementary to start the school day, he begins by reading a book over the loudspeaker. Then he works with students in small groups on their reading skills and meets with teachers individually to go over reading benchmarks for each grade.

    “Reading is fundamental. If you don’t know how to read, then you can’t really go far in life,” said Thomas.

    Thomas wants every student to go far and accomplish their goals. He is setting an example for them each day. Thomas says he became involved with the school district when he was 19-years-old in 2011. He’s held many roles since then. He’s been a para educator, a custodian and a teacher. He says those roles have helped shape him into who he is today.

    “It has been through my experiences working for Polk County Schools that I first began to understand that my life would be rooted in service and giving back to others,” said Thomas.

    Thomas says his goal is to become a principal one day.

    “The sky is the limit to me, but I know that education is where I want to remain because I can make a powerful impact,” he said.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • A+ Teacher Reynaldo Sosa follows lifelong dream

    A+ Teacher Reynaldo Sosa follows lifelong dream

    [ad_1]

    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — Reynaldo Sosa has spent almost 10 years at Chester W. Taylor Elementary School. He says teaching has always been his passion.

    What You Need To Know

    • Reynaldo Sosa is helping fifth-graders at Chester W. Taylor Elementary School follow their dreams

    • Sosa is a teacher and tutor at the school. He started his teaching career as a substitute teacher at a daycare center.

    • He says the key to his growth is continuing to learn new things. Sosa says he’s always looking for new ways to teach.

    • Nominate an A+ Teacher

    “I always said, ‘I want to be a teacher when I grow up.’ And that’s what I became when I grew up,” said Sosa.

    Sosa has his masters in educational leadership. He says he wants to continue growing as an educator. Right now, he’s helping fifth-graders in Pasco County grow and follow their dreams.

    “Seeing the smiles on their faces every morning, I give them a fist bump every morning just to say, ‘Good morning’ and they love that. Really that’s my favorite part,” said Sosa.

    Sosa is a teacher and tutor at the school. He started his teaching career as a substitute teacher at a daycare center.

    “Then I started here as an instructional assistant in Pre-K and then slowly but surely I kept moving up and growing each year,” said Sosa.

    He’s taught PE and second grade as well. He says the key to his growth is continuing to learn new things. Sosa says he’s always looking for new ways to teach.

    “Even if I taught it for the past three years, I know I can always get better, so I’m always looking at the standards, planning with my teammates, asking questions,” said Sosa.

    He’s hoping to instill his love of learning in his students so they always want to reach for the stars.

    “They have dreams that might be out of their reach, but I just tell them to keep going and it all starts academically, behaviorally with their mindset. If they don’t have that mindset in the classroom it’s going to be a struggle outside of the classroom,” said Sosa.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Wesley Chapel teacher finds joy in leading band program

    Wesley Chapel teacher finds joy in leading band program

    [ad_1]

    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Donald Scott has been sharing his love of music with students for 15 years.

    For 11 of them, he’s been teaching at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School. He’s the band director there.

    What You Need To Know

    • Donald Scott is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • Scott is the band director at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    “I am very passionate about music and I enjoy what I do and I love it when I see my kids going the same route as me, learning how to play an instrument, trying to write music, and just playing together as a group,” said Scott.

    Scott says music has always been a big part of his family. He was inspired to teach it by them and his band teacher at Blake High School.

    “I saw how he had so much fun and how he brought the best out of all of the kids and I was like, ‘Hey, I can do that, too,’” said Scott.

    He teaches band and guitar.

    Learning how to play an instrument isn’t easy, but he’s happy to guide his students through it each day.

    “Trying to get the breathing and the coordination and everything together, it’s tough at the beginning but once they accomplish it, it just brings joy to me because I get to see how much joy they have,” said Scott.

    Scott takes his students on field trips and prepares them for performances. He gets a lot out of music and wants the same for them.

    “Music is like therapy for the soul,” he said. “It’s like, things in the world are rocky and shaky but when you pick up your instrument and you just play for 15 to 20 minutes, you just zone out.”

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Largo High School head football coach honored for Black History Month

    Largo High School head football coach honored for Black History Month

    [ad_1]

    LARGO, FLA — Marcus Paschal finished his 10th season as Largo High School’s head football coach this school year.

    He was recently recognized as the city of Largo’s Black History Month honoree during a commission meeting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Marcus Paschal is this week’s A+ Teacher

    • Paschal is the head football coach at Largo High School

    • He went to school there, played on the football team and went on to play in the NFL

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    “I’m truly grateful to be honored with such an amazing award with so much meaning behind it,” said Paschal.

    Paschal graduated from Largo High School and played football there. He went on to play in the NFL. Paschal uses what he’s learned in his professional football career to guide his current players.

    “This is something that you could put in a storybook, you know, because I’ve been and played at the highest level and chose to come back home to try to give these guys and these girls some inspiration,” said Paschal.

    In addition to coaching, Paschal teaches weightlifting classes at Largo High. He’s teaching his students proper form and nutrition.

    “This is something that I always wanted to do, so this isn’t a job for me. This is something that was put on my heart at a young age and I just enjoy coming here every day to try to mentor the next generation of Largo Packers,” said Paschal.

    Among his students are family members. His daughter, younger brother and niece are juniors. His brother is on the football team.

    “It’s just definitely a blessing to be able to be hands on with them. I’m always hands on with everybody else’s kids but having that opportunity to be hands on with mine is definitely a great feeling,” said Paschal.

    Paschal will tell you every student is family. Largo High and this community are part of who he is and he says he feels honored to live, coach and teach here.

    “The field is an extension of the classroom and your best coaches are amazing teachers and that’s what I pride myself on,” said Paschal.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • A+ Teacher prepares third graders for their futures

    A+ Teacher prepares third graders for their futures

    [ad_1]

    BRADENTON, Fla. — Kati Steiner has been teaching at Oneco Elementary School for five years.

    She teaches third grade and loves inspiring her students to want to learn. Connection, growth and trust are some of the pillars of her classroom.

    “I always make sure that I find something outside of academics to make sure I connect with the kids whether that be their interests, if they play basketball, if they love to sing,” Steiner said. “Anything that gets them excited because that’s a segway into how I can help them learn.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Kati Steiner has been teaching at Oneco Elementary School for five years

    • Steiner said she uses what she learned teaching fifth grade to prepare her third graders for the future

    • Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominate them to be our next A+ Teacher

    Steiner said she’s always wanted to be a teacher.

    “I love that feeling of, when a kid is having trouble and then watching them figure it out,” said Steiner.

    Steiner said she uses what she learned teaching fifth grade to prepare her third graders for the future.

    “I did teach fifth grade a couple of my first years and now I really use that to help them know what’s coming. I know what’s coming for them and I know how to make it a perfect stepping stone to get them to where they need to be for 4th and 5th grade,” said Steiner. 

    Her goal for each student is to have them move onto the next grade with knowledge and confidence. 

    “Watching them pass and the look on their face when they’re like ‘have you got the scores yet?’ Everyday, ‘have you got the scores yet’ and then when you tell them, ‘yes you passed you’re going to 4th grade!’,” Steiner said. “And they just are so relieved and so proud of themselves. That is something that I can feel proud of when my kids are proud of themselves.” 

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • Manatee County teacher helps students find their voice

    Manatee County teacher helps students find their voice

    [ad_1]

    PALMETTO, Fla. — William Coleman has been a teacher for more than 20 years. He’s spent six of them at Manatee School for the Arts. He teaches chorus and music theater.

    What You Need To Know

    • William Coleman is this week’s A+ Teacher

    “Everything I’ve done in my life has led me to being here,” said Coleman.

    He calls teaching the thrill of his life.

    “I love when students get the look in their eye that says they learned something new, they learned something about themselves new. I love working with them because it is a joy,” said Coleman.

    Coleman finds joy in every part of his role as an educator and he wants his students to feel that in his class.

    “I work on making this classroom a safe space for everybody who enters. It’s really important that students feel like they can explore the arts and be confident even if they may have no skill to those that are very skilled,” said Coleman.

    He says connecting with his students is a crucial part of his job.

    “I have a story that I can tell about them which means that we have spent time in the classroom building a relationship,” said Coleman.

    Coleman says he loves spending each day with his students and working at a school dedicated to the arts.

    “We live and we celebrate the arts, all art forms, in order to teach us how to be better humans. And to me, I don’t think there’s any greater joy than that,” said Coleman.

    Coleman says he’s working toward taking his students to Puerto Rico in June for an opportunity to work with an international choral director. He says they’re fundraising right now for that big trip.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link

  • A+ Teacher to be inducted into FACA Hall of Fame

    A+ Teacher to be inducted into FACA Hall of Fame

    [ad_1]

    INVERNESS, Fla. – Larry Bishop has been in the Citrus County School District for 33 years.

    He’s currently the activities director at Citrus High School, an expansion of the athletic director role he’s had for more than a decade. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Coach Larry Bishop has been in the Citrus County School District for 33 years

    •  Bishop is the Activities Director at Citrus High School

    •  Bishop also coaches softball

    The school and district have a special place in his heart. He graduated from Citrus High School.

    “When I was a freshman in the fall of 1980, my dream was to come back to Citrus High School,” Bishop said. “So to be able to do that, and this is my 33rd year within the school district, I couldn’t be happier.”

    Bishop also coaches softball. It’s a role he truly enjoys.

    “There are so many things, not just academically but athletically and life lessons that can be taught on the field that can’t necessarily be taught in the classroom,” said Bishop.

     “Coach Bishop is always somebody that I can look up to because he just inspires you to do better and he pushes you to be the best version of yourself,” said Kaylin Smith, a junior at Citrus High School.

    Bishop has been in the district for so long that he’s gotten to know generations of families.

    “We have generations of people that come through our school system and I know I’m dating myself but I’m coaching kids of kids that I’ve coached,” said Bishop.

    Paisley Williamson is one of those kids.

    “It’s just nice to have somebody that has been here for so long that understands the school, understands the students,” said Williamson.

    Coach Bishop is being honored for his positive impact on students and athletes. He has been chosen to be inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

    “Serving on the board of directors at FACA, I’ve gone to a lot of induction ceremonies. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be chosen,” said Bishop.

    Bishop was chosen for his dedication to high school sports and the athletes who play them.

    That’s also why he was nominated to be an A+ Teacher. Coach Bishop will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony in January.

    [ad_2]

    Jorja Roman

    Source link