Post by rosa on Nov 12, 2009 5:25:50 GMT -7
...and for this gal, who teaches middle school (she should be rewarded just for surviving that ) in El Paso. This is off of FoxNews. What an great story, and here's a nod for all teachers, especially those in our community!
Texas Top Teacher From El Paso
Noreen Jaramillo/KFOX Morning News Anchor/Reporter
Posted: 10:56 am MST November 11, 2009
Updated: 9:26 pm MST November 11, 2009
El PASO, Texas -- El Paso has reason to celebrate: The state's top teacher is from the community. Yushica Walker is a sixth-grade science teacher at Morehead Middle school and has been teaching for 13 years.
Walker was first selected as Morehead teacher of the year, then chosen as the top educator in the El Paso Independent School District, then in the region and finally as the Texas Teacher of The Year.
"The rule of thumb is, you treat others like you want to be treated and I try to treat all my students special," said Walker.
KFOX talked to several of her students who said they feel like Walker cares about them and they love her smile. "She is my favorite teacher. She is here with energy. She is here with excitement. She is never here with a bad attitude," said Carlos Villages, a sixth-rade student.
"It is about building rapport and I do it from the first day of school. I believe after you build those relationships and the rapport is there, the sky is the limit," said Walker.
Even when class is over, Walker continues to show her students they matter. She often goes to their football games and other extracurricular activities and makes sure they know she is there. It a type of commitment that Walker's school principal, Ross McAleine noticed. "To have that kind of caring is unique. It keeps kids in school, it keeps them motivated to keep working on their work. They want to do well for a teacher like Mrs. Walker," said McAleine.
Walker will now be considered as the National Teacher of the Year. She said while it would be a great honor, she knows for her students it's what she does in the classroom at Morehead Middle School that matters most.
Walker will find out mid-January if she has been selected as one of the top four finalists for the National Teacher of The Year award.
Copyright 2009 by KFOXTV.com. All rights reserved.
Texas Top Teacher From El Paso
Noreen Jaramillo/KFOX Morning News Anchor/Reporter
Posted: 10:56 am MST November 11, 2009
Updated: 9:26 pm MST November 11, 2009
El PASO, Texas -- El Paso has reason to celebrate: The state's top teacher is from the community. Yushica Walker is a sixth-grade science teacher at Morehead Middle school and has been teaching for 13 years.
Walker was first selected as Morehead teacher of the year, then chosen as the top educator in the El Paso Independent School District, then in the region and finally as the Texas Teacher of The Year.
"The rule of thumb is, you treat others like you want to be treated and I try to treat all my students special," said Walker.
KFOX talked to several of her students who said they feel like Walker cares about them and they love her smile. "She is my favorite teacher. She is here with energy. She is here with excitement. She is never here with a bad attitude," said Carlos Villages, a sixth-rade student.
"It is about building rapport and I do it from the first day of school. I believe after you build those relationships and the rapport is there, the sky is the limit," said Walker.
Even when class is over, Walker continues to show her students they matter. She often goes to their football games and other extracurricular activities and makes sure they know she is there. It a type of commitment that Walker's school principal, Ross McAleine noticed. "To have that kind of caring is unique. It keeps kids in school, it keeps them motivated to keep working on their work. They want to do well for a teacher like Mrs. Walker," said McAleine.
Walker will now be considered as the National Teacher of the Year. She said while it would be a great honor, she knows for her students it's what she does in the classroom at Morehead Middle School that matters most.
Walker will find out mid-January if she has been selected as one of the top four finalists for the National Teacher of The Year award.
Copyright 2009 by KFOXTV.com. All rights reserved.