Hedgcoxe Elementary School - Kindergarten Teacher
Teaching Philosophy
As I reflect upon my teaching philosophy, I cannot help but recall the many experiences in Plano that have molded me into the educator I am today. The first thought that comes to my mind is our motto: Plano ISD Proud. As cliché as it sounds, it is completely accurate to say I would not be where I am today without the previous generation of educators in Plano ISD, as well as many wonderful staff members, who impacted my educational experience. I can confidently say that this Plano ISD family helped not only develop me as a person, but also the educator that I am and continue to strive to become.
On my first day of professional development in August of 2015, I was full of excitement, new ideas and had a stomach full of butterflies. It was the moment I had anticipated all my life, and I could not believe that I finally found myself in the position I had always wanted. Not only had I dreamt of teaching, but I had secretly hoped my journey would lead me back to my elementary home at Hedgcoxe Elementary School. When I received the news that I would be teaching kindergarten at Hedgcoxe, I found myself in utter shock. I relished the opportunity to begin paying back all of the hard work and dedication my teachers had poured into me for so many years. Once I gathered my composure, I knew it would be my goal to make every student who walked through my door feel as special, loved and worthy as the teachers in Plano ISD made me feel. Over the next few days of my orientation, I was welcomed with open arms from teachers who taught me, helped me, remembered me, sang with me and even the cafeteria manager who helped me remember my lunch code. I knew I was ready for this new challenge, but I also knew that I was going to continue to learn from colleagues whom I revered all my life. I knew I had come full circle in finding my teaching home. Plano ISD and Hedgcoxe played a crucial role in developing me as a life learner and played an important role in my education both as a student and an educator.
Since that wonderful day, I have grown and improved in many ways, but the one thing that remains the same is that I strive every day to give my students the same welcoming, loving support my Plano ISD teachers gave to me. From the first moment of the first day of school, I begin to work on building a bond with each of my young learners. This may be something silly like bonding over my love of cats or taking an interest in something of theirs like trains, but I always seek out something conducive to building a bond. I have spent many afternoons Googling unfamiliar topics such as train rails and organ pipes or investigating a new TV show that my students can’t stop talking about. I employ my newfound knowledge to discuss fun facts and to encourage or personalize learning for my students, but my ultimate goal is to demonstrate to my students that I truly care about the things that they care about. The time and effort in this endeavor are worth the relationships I build with my kindergarten friends. I do this in order to grow a strong bond with every single one of my students. These bonds we form in the beginning of the school year quickly become the foundation for our classroom family. We start the majority of our mornings with a morning meeting that allows students to share how they are feeling, ask a silly question or share something that might be going on in our classroom. I want the students to know, even though they are young, what they have to say is important and will be heard. This is critical in building mutual trust.
As a kindergarten teacher, I always like to keep in mind my actions can have a great impact on each student’s first experience in school. This is a huge responsibility, but it is also an honor. I make it my goal to instill a love of learning in every child that walks through my door. The first year in school sets the tone for each child’s educational career, and I have 176 days to make sure they leave school not only prepared for their upcoming years but are so excited about school that they are counting down the moments until the following school year!
When I decided I wanted to be a teacher, I was barely old enough to know what having a job really meant, but I knew that my teachers were some of my favorite people. I looked up to them, and I wanted to be a great educator like they were. I considered my teachers to my biggest heroes, and I would continuously share how much I idolized them. As I got older, I realized that teaching was not just a profession, it was a calling. My friends would all discuss their hopes and dreams of travel and high salaries, and all I could think about was how watching a child read for the first time was how I wanted to spend my days. There was nothing in this world more fit for me than becoming a teacher.
Though I do not always enjoy being labeled as a millennial, I am. One huge benefit I have is that I have grown up in a world that is full of technology. I have been able to incorporate technology into so many aspects of my classroom. I am able to have stories come alive with many books and videos. I have the ability to have students sitting at the same table doing leveled activities on their Chromebooks all while receiving a full report on what the students need reteaching on. As technology transforms the world around us, I always keep in mind that the students in my classroom every day will be the next creators, and that it is vital for them to be able to keep up with all of the technological changes that come with our lives.
Another goal of my teaching is to always make sure I am using data to drive student instruction. Though it is sometimes challenging to balance a classroom full of little ones and try to sound out every letter in the alphabet, I know how important it is. I am able to take so many different resources and use them to help me teach specific strands in order to teach students everything that I can to prepare them. I also strive to make testing not seem like testing and always add a little fun.
I had a professor in college that used a wonderful metaphor about teaching reading to children and comparing it to reading a foreign language. He discussed how teaching reading is one of the most challenging things in the world to teach because the large majority of us do not remember what it is like to not be able to read. This metaphor comes to my brain so often when I am trying to teach the skills that will all align in order for a student to have that moment where the stars all come together. Then they will read their first sentence and then their first book. But these are the moments when I realize why this job is a calling and not a profession. In these moments, nothing else matters except the life-changing moment where a child's whole world is opened up. This is what teaching is all about. This is what we wake up at 5 a.m. for, and why we work late when needed. Because my philosophy is to make students love learning and to be there to support them as they grow into young adults; it is my calling to ensure a love of learning and a bond with me where they feel heard, are safe and can take a risk.
When I get the chance to sit in my colorful classroom that is never this quiet and remember that I have almost spent as many years in this building as I have not, I know I am fulfilling my calling and am serving exactly where I am meant to be. This school taught me to read, write, do multiplication problems, but most importantly it taught me that I could be whatever I wanted to be. As Dr. Seuss famously says, “Don’t give up! I believe in you all! A person is a person, no matter how small!” This to me sums up exactly what Plano ISD models to every student who walks through our doors. Never give up, you matter and you can do whatever you set your mind to. Even if it does mean coming right back home and that makes me Plano ISD Proud.
Principal's Recommendation
Dear Plano ISD Teacher of the Year Committee,
It is with the utmost confidence and great pride that I compose this letter in support of our outstanding Hedgcoxe Teacher of the Year, Sarah Manthey. Sarah is an innovative kindergarten teacher as well as a dynamic team leader of our kindergarten team. Her enthusiasm, love and passion for teaching and her students, exemplify her commitment and dedication to our school and community.
Sarah does not work or serve for awards or accolades, but simply to inspire and impact all those she comes in contact with each day. She has mastered the elusive art of being firm but fair; having rules yet maintaining relationships and keenly remembering that though she teaches numerous content/subject areas, she is really teaching “children” whom she freely offers love, acceptance and grace. She genuinely values what each student brings to her class and can contribute to society. Even more importantly, she ensures that students believe they have value and can contribute to society.
Through her caring and outgoing personality, Sarah supports her team, fellow colleagues and our school community in numerous ways. She reaches out to her students and their families to provide them academic as well as social and emotional support. Her ability to build rapport and relationships with our new kindergarten families impacts them throughout their time at Hedgcoxe. Sarah is a true team player and always willing to help any student, staff member or parent. She is extremely organized and focuses on the most efficient and effective ways to accomplish tasks. Sarah can accelerate and challenge her brightest of students and at the same time, she will work relentlessly with students who struggle and need the extra support. Sarah strives to create incredible learning experiences and implement school-wide initiatives that are centered in best practice and are data-driven. She helps our PBIS committee with celebrations for our students and helped create yard signs to recognize those students. Additionally, she has earned a Plano ISD Education Foundation grant this year to allow our kindergarten students STEM opportunities through in-school field trips. Sarah willingly gives all she has to her students, her team and our school. This year she has organized our school spirit nights, lead our Green Team and aided our PTA in numerous ways. You will always find Sarah at any school event smiling and interacting with all of the Hedgcoxe community.
Sarah truly has the heart of a Hedgcoxe Hound, as she is a graduate of Hedgcoxe Elementary School herself. You can feel the pride she has in her school and the heart she has for all of the students at Hedgcoxe. In her classroom, you will find her working in a small group inspiring our youngest learners to read or leading her team with new and fresh ideas. Sarah’s goal is to instill in her students the same pride for Hedgcoxe as she has, so that they will strive for excellence and give back to our community as she does. Likewise, she models to our school community to give our best for our students, to wear a smile, to be generous and above all champion all students every day. Sarah Manthey is an excellent example of what a “Teacher of the Year” should be, and I am honored to have her considered as Plano ISD’s Teacher of the Year.
Sincerely,
Kristi Graham
Principal
