FEATURED TEACHER

Lisa Hughes

Mimosa Elementary School

Lisa's Lesson Plan

Lisa Hughes

Education:

BS in Deaf Ed at the University of Alabama and a MEd in Deaf Ed at Georgia State University.

Years Taught:

4 years at my present position: Resource and Self-contained Classroom at a public elementary school

School:

Mimosa Elementary School; Fulton County

Teacher of the Year

I was selected for teacher of the year through the following process.
1. Nominated by a peer
2. All nominees were put on a list. All faculty and staff voted for one person. The five people with the most votes become the finalists.
3. A committee made up of parents, teachers, and an administrator observed and individually interviewed all 5 people. They chose a winner.
4. To apply for Fulton County Teacher of the Year, I had to complete an application with 7 essay questions. These were read by a panel. Three elementary, three middle school, and three high school teachers were chosen as finalists. I was one of the elementary finalists.
5. A panel observed us and interviewed us. A winner was chosen at each level. I was not chosen, but I was honored to get as far as I did. My school gave me a plaque last year at the Awards Ceremony (which is mainly for students). The county hosted a luncheon and gave us flowers, a plaque, and a bag inscripted with Teacher of the Year. It was a very nice ceremony.

Lisa just found out that she was chosen to receive the 2000 Teacher of the Year Award from the Wal-Mart Foundation. This is part of the Sam Walton Community Leader Awards. In addition to the recognition, she will receive $500 to spend in her classroom.

Personal History:

I am married to my wonderful husband Steve. We do not have any children yet, but we have 2 precious pugs Sadie and Baby. They definitely think they are our children.

Best Teaching Day:

My best teaching day has nothing to do with teaching. It occurred when a student confided in me which gave me the opportunity to mentor and encourage. Just a reminder that teaching is more than reading and math. Worst Teaching Day: My worst teaching day occurred when one of my students moved away. This child was so precious to me. I had taught him for three straight years. When he came to me at five years old, he had no language. Because I was the first person to provide this child with language and one of the few people he could communicate with, we formed a special bond. I cried and cried when he left. We have written each other a couple of times this year. I really appreciate his present teacher helping us stay in touch.

Favorite Instructional CD(s):

1) Animated First Thousand Words published by Usborne
2) Earobics published by Cognitive Concepts, Inc.

Favorite Website(s):

http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com - Helps you make different kinds of word puzzles http://www.eric-carle.com/catexchange.html - Lists ideas submitted by teachers to use with Eric Carle's books

What I like best about teaching is:

Knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of children.

What I like least about teaching is:

The paperwork!

Words of wisdom about teaching deaf/hard of hearing kids:

As a new teacher, I would get frustrated when my students did not know something I thought they should know or were having trouble grasping a new concept. Then I realized that they are not supposed to understand it all. That is why they were in my class. This realization has helped me keep perspective.

Also, as a teacher in a public elementary school, it is important to me that my students are accepted and included by their hearing peers. I have found several ways to promote the integration of my students. If you have used additional ways, please let me know what they are. - order sign language books, books involving a deaf or hard of hearing character, books about hearing aids, etc. for the school library - offer a sign language class to faculty and staff for SDU credit - start a Sign Language Club for interested students before or after school - when possible, spend a few minutes per day such as during homeroom teaching sign language to the mainstream class - plan activities during Exceptional Children's Week in March or Deaf Awareness Month in May - give out sign language book marks - put posters around the school - have incentives for classes to learn to spell their name in sign language or the alphabet in sign language - provide a sign language video tape for teachers to show in their classroom such as Sign Me a Story starring Linda Bove (published by Random House).