Week 5:

Albuquerque Journal

May 1, 2017

By: John Doe

Our Teacher of the Year

Lauren Phillips, a 6^th grade social studies teacher at Albuquerque Middle School, has been selected as the 2017 National Teacher of the Year for her outstanding work with her students and in her school and community over the past five years. Unlike many of the teachers that have won this award in previous years, Ms. Phillips’ professional career did not start out in public school teaching. While completing her Bachelor’s degree at UNC-Greensboro in anthropology and archaeology, she spent a summer studying archaeology in Belize, Central America. Three years later, after completing her Master’s in Geography, Ms. Phillips moved down to Belize for a year, during which time she taught Geographic Information Science to students at a small, private, Belizean university. Ms. Phillips says that it was during this time that she found herself more interested in working with and teaching the younger children in her neighborhood than she was in teaching college courses. Upon moving back to the United States, Ms. Phillips immediately began pursuing an alternative route to teacher licensure in New Mexico.

“One day, as I was making my rounds through the school, I stopped by to check-in on a class, known for being particularly rambunctious, especially with substitutes, and was astonished to see each student seated and working together with their classmates on that day’s assignment, with Ms. Phillips crouched down next to one student’s desk, explaining a word to him” said Albuquerque Middle’s Principal, Jane Doe. “After class I asked Ms. Phillips if she was available to take a long term subbing position for one of my social studies teachers. After a week of periodically checking in on her and her classes and observing her in the classroom, I knew she had what it took to be a great teacher, and the following year I was able to hire her for a 6^th grade social studies position” Principle Doe said.

Other faculty members at Albuquerque Middle also attest to Ms. Phillips’ fun-loving yet serious nature when it comes to working with her students and with her colleagues. Jane Smith, a 6^th grade science teacher who works closely with Ms. Phillips, said “Lauren’s classroom is based on mutual respect between teacher and student. Her students want to learn because she takes the time during and outside of class to get to know each and every one of them, and then she miraculously is able to tie in their personal interests into each topic she teaches.”

Ms. Phillips says that her favorite part of teaching was being able to get the attention of the students that seem to be particularly struggling in other classes or just life, and give them a reason to want to learn and excel. 11 year old, Johnny Brown, said “I never really liked school, and I still kinda don’t, but this year I like coming to school, because I have 1^st period social studies with Ms. Phillips and she always makes class fun because she brings in cool stuff for us to use in our stations and I always have lots of time to get my work done, and she doesn’t get mad at us for talking like some of my other teachers.” 27 year old, Suzie Brown, Johnny’s mother said “I have struggled with getting Johnny interested in school, partly because I never liked school, and dropped out my Junior year of high school when I had him. When Ms. Phillips called me in for a parent-teacher conference 3 weeks in to the school year, I thought it was because he had yelled back at her or had hit another kid in class, but when I found out it was because he was making an improvement his class work I was amazed! I now talk with Ms. Phillips once a week to check in on his progress and to make sure I am doing what I need to do at home to help him.”

Ms. Phillips says that the past five years as a public school teacher have not been easy. The battle between what she thinks students should learn and what has to be taught in the class in preparation for end-of-year testing, is never ending. She says that the best encouragement comes from her administration and colleagues, as well has her students. “You can never learn enough, and if you think you know everything and can do it all alone, then it is time to step back and evaluate yourself as a teacher and a person, because my students teach me something new every day, and sharing these instances with my educator peers is what keeps me going on a daily basis” says Ms. Phillips.