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Faculty Honors Fellow Staff
Teacher and Staffer of the Year chosen |
Brooke Lewis
News Editor
Each February, all the 44 SBISD campuses nominate teachers for their Teacher of the Year award.
The faculty takes an active role in the voting at most schools, choosing the winners from among their own ranks.
It’s a great honor to be chosen.
The teacher with the most nominating votes is then declared Teacher of the Year. Through an identical process, a Staffer of the Year is also chosen.
Some teachers, after being nominated, go on to represent the school in district, state, and national competitions.
This year's Teacher of the Year is business teacher Mary Jackson.
She teaches classes such as Accounting I & II and holds the position of Department Chairman for Career and Technology.
“I love teaching Accounting, a class that is so practical for life skills,” said Jackson
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Jackson graduated from Texas A&M University in 1980. She didn’t intend to be a teacher.
"I [planned] to major in either Business or Vet. Medicine,” said Jackson.
However, Jackson’s plans changed during her sophomore year of college.
“I decided to volunteer at Alan Academy,” said Jackson.
Jackson quickly fell in love with teaching.
“I soon realized that students want to learn, and if a teacher takes time to get to know the students, you can teach them," said Jackson.
After her career aspirations changed, Jackson came to teach at Stratford in 1980.
Since then, she’s learned quite a bit more about teaching, building on her first realization.
“If you take extra time to show interest in students and their interests and activities, you can teach them,” said Jackson.
With 30 years of teaching experience, Jackson takes an active role in getting to know her students.
For example, she traveled with her students on the Academy of Finance Trip to New York this past February.
"My philosophy has always been ‘Reach Them to Teach Them,’" said Jackson.
Not surprisingly, Jackson is very enthusiastic about her work.
"I feel so very blessed to work at such an amazing school, with such incredible teachers, staff and students,” said Jackson.
The best part about teaching has always been the same for Jackson.
“The students are my favorite part of coming to work. I love my job, and can't imagine being anywhere else but here," said Jackson.
This year, the faculty’s pick for Staffer of the Year was Liza Schaefer.
Schaefer works as Jennifer Jordan's administrative assistant in the main office.
As assistant, Schaefer handles substitutes and various other duties.
It is only Schaefer's second year here, but she has definitely enjoyed her time so far.
Juntti is supportive of the faculty's decisions on Teacher of the Year and Staffer of the Year.
"Both Mary Jackson and Liza Schaefer are outstanding,” said Juntti.
Juntti goes on to demonstrate his extensive and flattering knowledge of school staff.
“They are kid-friendly, well-respected among their colleagues, and come to work each day with a positive attitude,” said Juntti.
Juntti is proud to have two such people working at the school.
“These are the types of people that principals strive to have working on their campus," said Juntti.
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