Teacher of the Year

I teach because it makes me feel joyful. I like to laugh with my students. I like to have fun with my students. I love it when former students come back to visit and tell me how they are doing. In the
book The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, Edward is hopelessly waiting for someone to come for him. Another doll on the shelf tells him, “You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope.” That is how I want my students to feel. That is how I feel about them. That is why I teach.

- Darcy Jeneary

A truly great teacher is one that can empathize with students and understand the way their minds work. I believe that my ability to form relationships, provide rich, rigorous lessons to every type of learner, and create motivating lessons to reach middle school students makes me a great teacher. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is when past students return each year and tell me stories of activities they remember from my class.
This is why I teach.

I want to make a lasting impression on my students, give them a thirst for learning, and make personal connections with them. Rainbows signify happiness, and I teach using all of the colors
in my rainbow which makes me happy and fulfilled in this wonderful teaching profession.

- Jill Murray

I teach because I love to learn. Nothing is more gratifying than
watching those around me succeed. Whether in school, at home, or in our amazing community, I truly enjoy my role as an educator. I know that I am not alone on this mission. It is a certainty
that this vision is shared by many in our profession.

Teaching is my passion, it is my bliss, and it is most definitely my magnum opus. My number one goal is to leave a legacy of mutual respect with the families that I serve, in the community that I represent, and in the profession that I love. All human beings want to learn and I have committed my career and my lifetime to that calling.

- Pete Rabaut