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Aimée Noelle Ratliff, Excellence in Teaching Awardee
Philosophy of Teaching
I was born into Plano’s “Tradition of Excellence” and raised surrounded by Plano teachers. In the early 1970’s my mother began teaching and counseling students in Plano, and my father set up his orthopedic practice here. From my parents I learned to put others first and to help and heal our Plano community.
'Making a difference begins with human relationships.'
For me teaching, like life, centers around relationships. Most of us fondly remember a teacher because she was particularly kind, or perhaps he always made us laugh. Every day that I spend in my classroom working with students is a gift. Winston Churchill said “We make a life by what we give,” and I find that to be absolutely true. My life is teaching; my life is children; my life is giving all that I can to teach the children.
However, in order to make a difference in students’ lives, I must first build rapport with them. I enjoy telling my students stories about my life, especially when the memories relate to the material I teach. This allows the students an opportunity to relate to me as well as to the material we’re studying in class. Once students know that I care and that I want to understand them as well as teach them, they often open up, share themselves, and produce better work. Additionally, some students will raise their hands and boldly relate personal stories in class. Others may reveal their level of trust in an essay, and still others may choose to come in outside of class to ask for help or to share a problem they are facing. Making a difference begins with human relationships.
'I am a star polisher.'
Each week my Peer Assistance and Leadership students go to Sigler Elementary School to mentor students. I enjoy this because I see my students receiving the joys of giving from their “PALees.” Recently in the Sigler office I spied a poem called “The Star Polisher” by Leah Becks, which gets at the heart of how I feel about teaching:
I have a great job in the universe of occupations. What do I do? I am a ‘star polisher.’ It’s a very important job. If you want to know how important my job is, just go out and look at the stars twinkling and sparkling. You see, I’m a teacher. The stars are the children in my class.
My job is to take them in — in whatever shape they come and shine and buff them and then send them out to take their places as bright little twinkling beacons in the sky. They come into my room in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they’re bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly and broken. Some stars are cuddly, soft and sweet. Some stars are prickly and thorny. As I buff, polish, train and teach my [big] stars, I tell them that the world cannot do without them. I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to do. I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better place because of them.
Each night as I look at the sky, I’m reminded of my very important job and awesome responsibility. I go and get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow and for my class of [big] stars.”
'I find reward in the little words of thanks along the way.'
Ultimately, I find reward in the little words of thanks along the way. Sometimes these words of gratitude come at the end of the day. “Miss Ratliff, I wrote you a card. I haven’t really liked any of my teachers enough to do that since elementary school, but I really enjoy your class.” “Thanks” comes as the school year begins and at winter break with the trail of students popping into my room to say how they earned an A in English at a four-year university.
Praise comes a decade later from John, an appreciative student and new father thousands of miles away, writing to say my “spunk” inspired him, and that he now uses his skill with words every day in advertising. His letter shares that [he] simply want[s] [me] to know that [I] had a lasting impact on [his] intellectual development.” His closing comment is “please know that your passion for your students does not go unnoticed; it is only mostly left unspoken.”
Finally, in AVID class Carlos tells me “Miss, you’re an angel. You’re like a second mom to me.” These comments and others like them inspire me to continue preparing students to find their places in the night sky.
Educational / Professional Background
University Degrees / Education
- M. Ed., Major in Secondary Education and Minors in English and Technology, 1998
The University of North Texas, 4.0
- Texas Teacher Certification, Secondary English and 6 additional hours in Administration
Southwest Texas State University, 3.89
- B. A., English, 1992, The University of Texas at Austin
Teaching Experience
- 2008 to 2009 - PSHS AVID elective teacher/coordinator/site team leader
- 2007 to Present - Honors English III Teacher
2007 to 2008 - Writing Lab Instructor
2006 to 2007 - Honors English III & English III Teacher
2006 to Present - Tutoring SAT & ACT
2005 to Present - Peer Assistance & Leadership Sponsor/Teacher
2004 to 2006 - Honors English IV Team Leader
2001 to 2006 - Honors English IV and Honors English III
1999 to 2000 - Honors English IV and English III
1998 to Present - English & Writing Tutor
1997 to 1998 - English III with Special Education
1996 to Present - Plano Senior High School English Teacher
1993 to 1996 - Vines High School English Teacher
1995 to 1996 - Honors English II
1994 to 1995 - English I sheltered class with reading teacher
1994 - Plano ISD Summer School English I
1993 to 1994 - English I ESOL sheltered class and Honors English I
Professional Activities
- 2008 to 2009 - Attended AVID Conferences in Richardson and San Antonio
- 2007 to 2008 - Attended AVID Summer Institute in Dallas with Site Team and Principal Weekend AP English Language Conference with David Joliffe, Chief grader
- 2004 to 2005 - Attended a weeklong summer AP Language & Composition Conference at TCU; Attended UNT Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writers Conference
- 2003 to 2006 - Plano ISD Curriculum Leadership Team Writer (grades 9-12); Trained to facilitate grief at Journey of Hope (served for a full year); Participated in the Athena Foundation Seminar for Heart of Darkness; King Lear
- 2001 to 2002 - Attended a weeklong AP English Language and Composition Conference at SMU Legacy
- 1999 to 2000 - Served on the Grammar Textbook Adoption Committee for PSHS; Participated in the Dallas Institute for Humanities on the EPIC (9 books in three weeks)
- 1998 to 1999 - Participated in the Athena Foundation Seminar for Gatsby
- 1995 to 1996 - Assisted in writing and editing Blue Ribbon School Application for Vines High School
- 1994 to 1995 - Revised campus Teacher Handbook; Attended AP English Language Conference at the Richardson Civic Center; Sponsored Student Council at Vines High School
- 1993 - Researched, Developed, and Participated in a mentoring program for students
Professional Honors
- Plano Senior High School Teacher of the Year, 2008-2009
- Education Foundation Grant Winner for AVID 2008-2009
- Five time Nominee for PSHS Teacher of the Year (by faculty)
- Nominated as a Top 10 Honor Teacher (by students) 2004-2005 at PSHS
- Elected as a Top 10 Honor Teacher 2001 and 2002 at PSHS (by students)
- Stanford Award for influencing student success, 1998
- Delta Kappa Gamma, Society of Honored Women Educators
- Plano Independent School District’s Beginning Teacher of the Year, 1994-1995
- Vines High School Beginning Teacher of the Year, 1994-1995
- Kappa Delta Pi, Teaching Scholastic Honor Society
School
Principal Recommendation
To Whom It May Concern:
Ms. Ratliff has taught English for several years at Plano Senior High School. I have always found her classes to be well planned and stimulating. Whether she is dressed as a character from the literary selection being discussed or conferencing with an individual student about his writing, her purpose is always to ensure the success of each student.
Three years ago Ms. Ratliff assumed responsibility for the Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL) class. She has carefully selected students from all segments of the student body for participation. Under her leadership and guidance these students have done an excellent job of assisting peers with personal issues as well as developing and carrying out service projects for the school and community.
The current school year brought the AVID program to our campus. With Ms. Ratliff’s background in academics, her concern with individuals, and her background in service to others, she was the logical choice to head up this program. She spent many hours in personal study and formal training to ensure that she was prepared to assist students with academic potential in preparing for college. She and the students have gotten off to a great start and will only improve as the year progresses.
Ms. Ratliff is an outstanding educator who makes a positive impact on students on a daily basis. Please give her application for Plano ISD Experienced Teacher of the Year every consideration.
Sincerely,
Dr. Doyle Dean, Principal
Plano Senior High School
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