Kinnari Bhakta | Marilyn Brooks Elementary Excellence in Teaching

Kinnari Bhakta

 

Hunt Elementary School | Fourth Grade Team Leader

E-mail congrats

Teaching Philosophy 

Each day is an opportunity.

I was recently at a memorial service for a family friend. During the eulogy, I learned that this gentleman lived by an Africana philosophy that states, "I am because we are." I learned that this philosophy simply stated means working towards the common good. Teaching, for me, is the opportunity each day to help my students realize not only their personal growth potential but also that they have skills that make them productive members of a world that will present them with opportunity to nurture the common good.

I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones in that I was blessed with knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Sitting in a kindergarten classroom as a five-year-old girl, I saw my teacher's desk filling up with Christmas presents, and I thought to myself, "I am going to be a teacher." Of course, over time, my reasons for wanting to be a teacher evolved and my desire to want to take the opportunity to be an integral part of a child's journey in learning only deepened.

When it comes to my decision to teach, I have never looked back. The classroom is where I have come to shine. It is the safe place where a once 22-year-old first-year teacher has grown into the teacher that I have come to be in this moment. The classroom is where I have learned how to learn from my mistakes. It is the place where my confidence to deliver a lesson with impact is felt through the "aha" moments of my students. It is the safe place that I want to teach my kids to take risks, be brave enough to think outside the box, and to view their mistakes as opportunities to better themselves throughout their journey.

As an elementary school teacher, I do not see myself as a person whose only job is to teach core subjects. The inclusion of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the delivery of a lesson has always been my natural style. A lesson that can be delivered in 20 minutes, can exponentially multiply. While SEL lessons taught in isolation can be beneficial, I believe that when embedded within the delivery of core lessons, students start to feel the naturalness in the way they should approach both social and academic areas of learning. My students learn to set goals for themselves with the understanding of the "power of yet". They learn to celebrate each other's wins and more importantly, they learn to support one another through their struggles. A successful day in my classroom is defined by the moments where my students comfort each other through their hurdles and verbalize their excitement for a classmate finally "getting it" or seeing a smile come across their face when they finally understand something that they have been striving to learn.

I believe that once my students begin to understand their journey of how to gain the confidence to develop their personal growth, they begin to see the potential of their classmates as well, and start to nurture an atmosphere where all students can succeed. This is not exclusive to the classroom and my students. As a veteran teacher, one of my greatest joys is working with new teachers. I love learning from them and in turn, I love to be a listening ear and guiding factor as they navigate their way through the world of education. I see myself as a quiet leader. I lead by example. I take pride in teachers learning from me by observing my daily interactions with not only my students, but my peers as well.

Success is felt when a teacher implements something they have seen me do, and an even greater joy is felt when they add their own spin to make their mark for the growth of their students.

Teaching is not just a job. It is an opportunity that I have been blessed with to help the people around me to pave a way that will help them reach their personal best for the common good. I am truly fortunate to have been given many opportunities to learn and grow in my field, so that I can give back by helping my students and fellow teachers to set and reach their own goals. As a teacher, "I am because we are!"


Dear Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:

It is my honor to recommend Mrs. Kinnari Bhakta to the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee. Mrs. Bhakta is one of the most talented educators with whom I have had the privilege of working. Daily, Mrs. Bhakta brings immeasurable compassion, dedication, and expertise to her class, team, and our school.

Mrs. Bhakta cares deeply about her students' success, striving to know her students as a person and a learner. She understands that to assist students in meeting their academic potential, they have to feel understood and connected to their teacher, peers, and school. The relationships that Mrs. Bhakta builds with and between her students help them feel safe and capable, ready to approach challenges with confidence.

Mrs. Bhakta demonstrates nearly unparalleled intentionality in instructional planning and responsiveness. She understands that student learning is maximized through clearly defined learning objectives, engaging experiences and resources, ongoing assessment, and adjusted approaches. Mrs. Bhakta continually uses available formal and informal data to guide her instructional decisions to meet students' individual needs. Mrs. Bhakta provides for the differences in students' knowledge, abilities, and interests with purpose and creativity.

During her time at Hunt, first as a team member and later as a team leader, peers have sought Mrs. Bhakta out for her expertise and her collegial skills. Peers naturally want to be a part of any collaboration in which Mrs. Bhakta participates. Teammates appreciate her drive, curiosity, and strong interpersonal skills. She has a great wealth of knowledge and expertise, but Mrs. Bhakta continually seeks that which will assist her in better meeting students' diverse needs.

Of all of Mrs. Bhakta's gifts, her greatest is compassion. Mrs. Bhakta's primary goal is to help students feel confident and valued. She works tirelessly to involve and orient school personnel and families to promote her students' emotional and academic success. Mrs. Bhakta's efforts and commitment to supporting students and families often leave me in awe.

Hunt Elementary is so proud to be represented by Mrs. Bhakta, knowing that she represents fully the mission and vision of our school as well as Plano ISD.

Arron Moeller, Principal

Hunt Elementary School