Debra Nockels, Excellence in Teaching
Philosophy of Teaching
One of my students’ favorite books from the tenth grade curriculum is the science fiction novel "Ender’s Game" by Orson Scott Card. In the introduction to this book, Card says: "Never in my entire childhood did I feel like a child. I felt like a person all along—the same person that I am today. I never felt that I spoke childishly. I never felt that my emotions and desires were somehow less real than adult emotions and desires."
This rings true to me.
I grew up in the Plano school district. I am a former Memorial, Barron, Bowman, Williams and Plano East student. My favorite teacher was and still is an English teacher at Plano East, Theresa Biggs. I remember how much I loved her class because it was a place where I could be myself, but where I could also feel safe because I knew someone was in control. The things that I appreciated in an authority figure then are things that I still look for in my principals and superiors today. These are also attributes that I try to implement in my classroom.
I want students to be themselves in my class. I think teenagers are hilarious; their quirky sense of humor brings me the most joy in my work. In turn, I want to make them laugh. Who doesn’t want to learn while having a good time? I was once told that the best tool for classroom discipline is having an entertaining lesson. I believe that. When I am able to form a relationship with a student, that student wants my approval.
In "Ender’s Game" the main character says, “So the whole war is because we can’t talk to each other.” The whole war in some classrooms is the inability for the teacher and student to realize that they have the same goals: they both want the best for the student. I want students to know that I am not very different from them, that I can relate to them and be trusted, while at the same time maintaining a definite distinction between me, as their authority figure, and them, as my students. This is how I structure my classes.
As a department chair, I attend many meetings, some good and some bad. I have learned that the things I appreciate in a meeting (a good laugh, group work with colleagues, and a routine) are the things that my students appreciate in a class. Students welcome routine, and if I can somehow work Paris Hilton into a grammar lesson, even better.
We start class every day with a “bell-ringer.” The most popular day is Tuesday when we read from a book called "Weighty Words." For each letter of the alphabet, there is an SAT word, and for each word there is a short story that includes a play on the word to help the students remember the meaning. Each Tuesday we read about one word, and there is a vocabulary game over the word on Friday. I often have students write me from the senior highs to say that they still remember all of the vocabulary and that the words “coruscate” in their essays.
A principle that I live by is to never ask of someone else what I am not willing to do myself. I have very high expectations in my class, so to maintain equality, I work hard. I want to show my students that I will always put into their education what I am asking them to give forth. If this means getting graded essays right back to them or being the sponsor for their new Music Appreciation Club, I am happy to do it. I try to teach hard work by example.
Teenagers today do not get enough credit. On the news we only hear of drug use or teenager indifference. This has not been my experience--my students are amazing! Every day I am struck by how prepared for their futures they will be because of their motivation and the hard work they put toward their studies.
Contrary to the “good ol’ days” mentality, the students that I experience know much more and are much better prepared for college than I was at their age. What a great inspiration! In "Ender’s Game" an adult questions, “Does it ever seem to you that these boys aren’t children? I look at what they do, the way they talk, and they don’t seem like little kids.” The answer that he receives is exactly how I feel, “They’re the most brilliant children in the world, each in his own way.”
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Jasper Teachers Debra Nockels and Lisa Ricketts are pictured at the April 21 Teacher of the Year Breakfast hosted by EDS Credit Union and held at Reflections on Spring Creek. |
Educational / Professional Background
University Degrees
- Master of Education, Secondary Education - University of North Texas, Denton, TX (2006)
- Master of Arts, English - University of North Texas, Denton, TX (2004)
- Bachelor of Arts Mass Communication - Texas State University, San Marcos (2003)
Professional Profile
- Certified 8-12 English Plano ISD Teacher
- English II Teacher
- Yearbook Teacher
- Plano English II Curriculum Writing Team Member
- Music Appreciation Club Advisor
- English Department Head
- Plano English II Final Exam Writer
- Saturday TAKS Tutorials Tutor
- Finals Round-Up Tutor
Work History
- Teacher/English Department Head - Jasper High School, Plano (2005-current)
- Student Teacher - Shepton HS, PIano (2005)
- Student Teacher - TX Rice MS, Plano (2005)
Professional Accomplishments
- 2007-2008 Jasper Teacher of the Year - Nominated by teachers; observed and selected as winner by a panel of former Jasper Teachers of the Year
- 2007-current English Department Head - Responsible for the scheduling, budget, and management of teachers for the English department
- 2006-2007 Jasper English II Curriculum Team Leader - Responsible for creating and disseminating curriculum and syllabi for English II
- 2005-2006 Nominee for Jasper Beginning Teacher of the Year - One of five nominees for Jasper Beginning Teacher of the Year
School
Principal Recommendation
To the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:
Please accept this letter as a most positive recommendation for Debra Nockels as Plano ISD’s Experienced Teacher of the Year. Debra teaches English and yearbook at Jasper High School. Debra is very involved in the school and district.
Last year I selected her to serve as our English II Team Leader. She did such a great job that I promoted her to English Department Head for this year. She now leads the largest department of our school, including teachers for English I (regular and pre-AP), English II (regular and pre-AP), reading, and ESOL. Even though this is her first year in that role, she is already one of the very best department heads we have had in the seven years I have worked at Jasper.
Debra has spent many hours working on curriculum and instruction for Plano ISD. She currently is a member of the English leadership team for the High School Curriculum Project. Debra spent the last two summers helping create units, lessons, and assessments that will enable students throughout Plano ISD to maximize their learning in English/language arts. She also does a great job of communicating this information to the other English teachers at Jasper.
Debra is also our yearbook sponsor, which requires a lot of time on the evenings and weekends. She does a great job teaching the yearbook students and producing a great yearbook for all of the students at Jasper to enjoy and have as a keepsake of their time at our school. If being a teacher, department head, and yearbook sponsor wasn’t enough, Debra also volunteered to sponsor the Music Appreciation Club, which is another club that the students really enjoy.
Yet the reason Debra was chosen as Jasper’s Experienced Teacher of the Year was because of the incredible job she does teaching her students. Her tireless work ethic and sincere love of students enables her to deliver amazing lessons. Debra uses a variety of different learning activities to maintain the students’ interest and enable them to master the subject matter. She is such an amazing leader that I have encouraged her to consider school administration. However, she has told me that her heart is in the classroom with her students every day.
I have observed many outstanding teachers throughout my years in education. I can honestly say that Debra Nockels is one of the very best teachers I have ever worked with. I am quite confident that the district selection committee will feel the same way once they get an opportunity to visit with her. Her efforts are appreciated by not only her students but their parents and her peers as well. She is a vital member of the Jasper High School team, and she is very deserving of the district’s Experienced Teacher of the Year award.
Sincerely,
Michael Novotny
Principal, Jasper High School
E-mail congrats to Debra Nockels
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