Beth Hubbard, Elementary Teacher of the Year
Philosophy of Teaching
"He did just what they had trained him to do - he lost."
After first seeing the movie Seabiscuit, I was immediately struck
by the strong messages in the movie. Seabiscuit, an unsuccessful racing
horse, was trained to lose races, in order to build the confidence
of the other horses. He continued down this path until a team, consisting
of a jockey, a trainer and a businessman, believed he could do better.
Once he was given the time, energy and expectation to win, he rose
to the challenge.
As a teacher, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between
the expectations I set for my students and those
set for Seabiscuit. If I set low expectations or none at all, that
is exactly what I'll
get. If I "train" them to think all they have to do is "place," they
will never "show" what they are truly capable of doing. When I set
high expectations, my students do their best to reach
them, just like Seabiscuit did.
Much like Seabiscuit's team, students need a support system in order
to nurture their learning. Teachers must build successful students
in the same manner. Parents, teachers, administrators, specialist teachers
and all other campus staff help children reach their full potential.
The classroom teacher can't do it alone.
"Sometimes all somebody needs is a good chance."
Seabiscuit performed when he was given a chance. Once his team found
out what type of encouragement he needed to win,
those in charge of his training used this encouragement
to help him succeed as a winner.
Every student who enters my classroom deserves a
chance, a chance at an education and a chance to
excel in his/her unique talents. I help my
students find their talents and encourage them to
develop all of their talents. I make it a point to
find out my students' interests outside
of school. I have attended sporting events and dance
recitals to show my students that I care about their
interests.
"Everybody loses a couple. And you either pack up and go home or you keep fighting."
Many students need an extra push and words of encouragement to lead them into the world of learning. They aren't expected to be perfect, just to give it their all. When they struggle, I encourage my students to persevere. They learn that we all have disappointments in life, but I want my third graders to understand that doesn't mean they don't try, it means they try even harder the next time.
"The finish line is the future."
Instilling the value of education into my students at the elementary level is vital, so that they will have the drive to continue through high school and even college. If they recognize the value of receiving an education now, they can achieve anything they desire in the future. I also believe that my education never ends. I will continue to learn throughout my career in order to make myself a superior teacher, as I'm currently doing in graduate school.
I have wanted to be a teacher since I can remember. For my tenth birthday,
my parents gave me an assortment of classroom teacher supplies. The
only thing missing was an overhead. "Dad, all real teachers have
overheads. I can't be a teacher without one," I pleaded. When
a lot of parents would have laughed it off as a childhood phase, my
parents didn't. Within days, I had a "dad-made" overhead.
He created a wooden box with a Plexiglas front and a large flashlight
inside. The only glitch was that I had to learn to write backwards!
My parents believed in me and gave me every opportunity to fulfill
my dreams of becoming an educator. I aspire for my students to have
that excitement and that drive when reaching towards their future that
I had as a child. I want to be their motivator and a source of encouragement.
Everyone
has goals for his/her future, and with a support
team, a chance and high expectations, I hope to help
my students achieve their dreams and to
win their own race.
Educational / Professional Background
University Degrees
- B.S. - Texas Tech University
- Elementary Education: Mathematics Specialization
- Working toward master's degree at the University
of North Texas
 Teaching Experience
August 2004 to Present - Aldridge Elementary School
- 3rd Grade Team Leader
- 4th Grade Teacher
- Plano ISD Writing Academy
- Organized Aldridge Elementary Writing Academy
- Aldridge Elementary Science Vertical Team
- Train the Trainer Representative
- Positive Behavior Support Training
- Aldridge Elementary Language Arts Vertical Team
August 2002 to 2004 - Christie Elementary School
- 4th Grade Teacher
- Christie Elementary Multi-Cultural Committee
- Christie Elementary Reading/Language Arts Committee
- Reading Tutor
- Mentor
- Spelling Bee Co-Chairman
January 2002 to May 2002 - Roscoe Wilson Elementary School, Lubbock, Texas
School
Principal Recommendation
It is my pleasure to recommend Ms. Beth Hubbard as the Experienced Teacher of the Year representing Aldridge Elementary. Beth was chosen by her peers due to her inspired teaching as well as her leadership skills. In her three years at Aldridge, Beth has made a significant impact on student learning within her grade level and on our campus.
It is a privilege to spend time in Beth's classroom.
I love to watch her students get excited about the
activities she plans and see them truly involved
in their learning. There are always multiple activities
happening at the same time in Ms. Hubbard's class.
What would be chaos in another classroom is active
learning in Beth's room! Her ability to "connect" with
a diverse group of learners further enhances student
success.
Beth serves as the third grade team leader, and
in that capacity she coordinates instructional planning
and grade level activities. She is active on our
campus leadership team and serves as a mentor for
our new teachers.
I hope you will agree that Beth Hubbard is a worthy candidate for the Piano ISD Teacher of the Year. We are lucky to have her as part of PISD, and I am so fortunate to have her on my staff at Aldridge! I am proud to recommend Beth Hubbard to the Teacher of the Year Selection Committee.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Carruthers
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