- Special Events
- Teacher of the Year
Madison Holley | Marilyn Brooks Elementary Excellence in Teaching
Beaty Early Childhood School | Teacher Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD)
Teaching Philosophy
The reason I am an outstanding teacher is because I had an outstanding teacher as a student in Plano ISD. Her name is Mrs. Youngblood, and she is still a teacher in the district today. I was a 504 student identified with ADHD, I had accommodations that warranted pull out into a resource classroom setting. Mrs. Youngblood was my teacher. As most students who are pulled for various reasons at that age, I felt different and embarrassed about leaving the classroom and needing extra help. I knew I needed help, but being normal was more important. Mrs. Youngblood recognized my embarrassment and insecurities without me having to tell her. She saw me like no one else had in my academic career. To alleviate my embarrassment, while helping me grow as a learner, she found creative ways to remove me from the classroom without drawing attention. Mrs. Youngblood took the time to get to know me beyond my disability and see the potential in me that I had not experienced before this time.
Her dedication extended beyond the classroom and content. She was the first adult in my academic career to see beyond my challenges. The district theme, “Believe,” is what Mrs. Youngblood did for me as a student. Her belief in me helped me overcome my obstacles and become the outstanding educator I am today.
My philosophy of teaching is based on my experience as a Plano ISD student. I believe all students are more than their disability, they are children first. As an outstanding educator, I know the importance of building relationships and supporting students to use their unique ability to navigate school. As an early childhood educator, I am their first experience in public education. It is crucial that I lay the foundation of excellence, passion for learning, and create a safe learning environment for each student every day. I celebrate each and every victory or accomplishment my students make, knowing their growth can change their trajectory in education and life. I partner with each of my students' families to help them navigate their new understanding of their child’s ability. As their child’s first teacher, I am proud and honored to help families understand that their child can learn and be successful in school.
As a master teacher, I believe in helping my students and families focus on their unique abilities, not their disabilities. In my classroom, I consistently build long-lasting relationships with students and families. I see my students and all their possibilities, like Mrs. Youngblood saw in me. I am an outstanding educator because of Mrs. Youngblood and my experiences in Plano ISD. I look forward to honoring her and all the other teachers that made a positive impact on their students with this recognition.
Dear Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:
As educator Rita Pierson so aptly stated, "Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be." Ms. Madison Holley is that person for her students, and as such is a most worthy nominee for Plano ISD Teacher of the Year. Ms. Holley teaches early childhood special education students in a highly structured centralized classroom. She works with some of the most behaviorally challenging students on our campus. Her passion for connecting with her students and motivating them to achieve their full potential is exceptional. She recognizes each child's strengths and builds upon these, creating sincere connections with the child and their family and making a positive impact on the student's success as she launches them into their educational journey.
Ms. Holley constantly seeks to improve the learning experiences for her students. She creates and reviews her students' IEPs and then expertly integrates their learning goals in all aspects of her classroom environment and instructional day. She has an incredible ability to recognize individualized student opportunities for growth throughout every day for each of her students, utilizing every single minute of their time together to propel them toward achieving their goals and developing their love for learning. She strives to help her students reach their highest potential and highest level of independence.
With daily data collection on each student's progress, Ms. Holley adjusts her instruction to provide rigorous, personalized activities and materials designed to challenge and engage. She is incredibly organized, utilizing detailed systems to monitor and document student progress and plan for how to meet student needs. She maintains high expectations for all of her students, and her students' mastery of their goals is exceptional. They consistently demonstrate overall growth as a learner ready to advance to Pre-K and beyond.
Continually researching strategies and resources to expand the learning opportunities in her classroom, Ms. Holley determines how her students may benefit, and then creates or gathers the manipulatives, visuals, music and activities for her lessons. She routinely shares her findings and innovative ideas with her colleagues throughout the building, mentoring other teachers and providing support to both new and seasoned fellow staff members. Her classroom is an exemplary model of the best possible learning environment not just for her very special students, but also for all early childhood learners.
In the time she has been at Beaty, Ms. Holley has become known for her expertise in designing behavior strategies and classroom supports to best meet student needs. She is creative in brainstorming solutions with her colleagues, seeking to understand the foundation of student behaviors and address it in a way that is effective and respectful to each student. Her recommendations and follow-up collaboration with staff result in positive student outcomes, growth and overall success throughout the school day. She routinely goes above and beyond to help all Beaty staff with Special Education paperwork, student behavior concerns, or general support. Her daily responsibilities are demanding both physically and emotionally, and yet she meets each day with an enthusiastic smile, positive attitude, and sense of humor. Her colleagues praise her as intuitive, innovative and a tireless advocate for her students, their families, and fellow co-workers. They recognize her dedication to her students, endless willingness to help, and her ability to inspire others. Madison Holley loves and celebrates each child in her care every single day, and she is an incredible asset to the students, teachers, and families of Beaty Early Childhood School. I am so proud to have her on our staff.
Kristen Fislar, Principal
Beaty Early Childhood School