Inaugural Teacher of the Month: Joanna VanRaden!
Editor’s Note: Teacher of the Month is a new feature in the Manchester Mirror. Each Teacher of the Month will receive a certificate of excellence and an article in The Mirror. Congratulations to Mrs. VanRaden on being the first honoree in this special series!
Why does this teacher deserve to be recognized? How does this teacher make a difference in his/her student’s lives?:
Submitted by Michael Orta, parent
I have had the honor of meeting Mrs. VanRaden nearly 10 years ago when my oldest daughter was enrolled in her class. I knew instantly there was something special about this teacher which was later confirmed by the increased motivation my oldest daughter took in learning and the passion she had for her teacher. To this day… that passion still holds true. Three daughters later and a son who is currently enrolled in her class; I can honestly say they have each been touched by a teacher who is incredibly passionate about her students and their education. When you walk in her class room in the morning before school starts you’ll often hear music playing in background while friendly hugs and warm greetings are offered as a way to welcome her students back in for the day. It doesn’t just stop there. She has a niche for being able to motivate her students to achieve new heights in their own educational accomplishments; encouraging them each to reach their personal peaks of learning. Students in her class aren’t limited by the pace at which other students learn but by the pace in which they themselves learn; which is truly a competitive advantage for each and every student in her classroom. Having 4 students enrolled in her class over the past 10 or so years; I could share so many stories on how she has positively impacted each of them. As a community we are truly lucky to have a teacher like Mrs. VanRaden teaching our youth. Mrs. VanRaden doesn’t just deserve to be just recognized as the teacher of the month or teach of the year. She truly should be recognized as the teacher of lifetime as the positive impact she has on her students will without doubt last a lifetime.
Editor’s Note: I visited Mrs. VanRaden’s classroom to obtain a photo for use with this article. I can indeed tell you that as students arrived, nearly each one clamored for her attention before even entering the classroom. They were proud of the work that they had done online the night before and wondered if she noticed. They showed her writing and other work that had been done at home, some that was simply extra practice. They truly craved her approval and wanted to be recognized by her. In return, they received hugs or fist bumps with sincere words of encouragement. The room was set up for learning, but yet exhibited a warm cozy feeling, and yes, there was music playing.
Mrs. VanRaden gave me the honor of letting the students know why I was there. I realized later that it was because she didn’t fully understand herself why I was there. As I explained that The Mirror had asked for people to write in and tell us who their favorite teachers were, several hands automatically pointed toward Mrs. VanRaden, identifying her as their favorite teacher. When I revealed that she was going to be the first teacher to be honored, the students in her classroom started clapping. She was truly surprised and honored to be recognized for her work with the students. She insisted that it was the students themselves that made her work worthwhile. “We can do all sorts of tests and programs, but none of that would matter without the students. The students are what make this job so enjoyable.”
Remember to submit your nomination for Teacher of the Month here. Nominations should be submitted by the 20th of each month.
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