Judy Fenton,
Excellence in Teaching Awardee
Philosophy of Teaching
When I think of my teaching philosophy ... I hear voices.
The voice on the phone brought a smile to my face. "Mrs. Fenton, it's me Joey." I just needed to talk to someone who knows me and cares about me."
The letter arrived with a postmark from Iraq. I had to laugh as I read the scrawled handwriting of another former student, Donnie P. "Mrs. Fenton, It's weird being in war. Thanks for believing in me and praying for me. P. S. please don't send my letter back with all the mistakes circled like you used to do with my English papers."
The neatly wrapped package on my desk held an authentic Chinese fan. The note was brief. "If you hadn't pushed me, I never would have discovered I'm really good at this stuff. Thanks. Crystal"
The knock on the door revealed a smartly dressed West Point cadet, standing tall and proud. "Mrs. Fenton, I can't tell you how much you and your class have helped prepare me for the academy. Thanks for giving me those second chances, even when I messed up."
"Mrs. Fenton, this is Chris's mom. I guess you heard about the accident. It would mean so much to us, if you would say a few words at the funeral."
There are so many voices . . . "Will you sing at my wedding ... I decided to be a teacher because of you ... Remember when you used to say . . . Did I ever tell you that you're the funniest teacher I've ever had. .. Where do you get all your energy ... I never realized how much you taught me until I got to college." These voices and many more are what come to mind when I think about the students I have encountered over the past 20 years. All were different, yet all seemed to respond to two simple messages that sum up my teaching philosophy.
The first message I must convey with each student who walks in my
classroom is: "Everybody is Somebody!" I
want my students to know I am glad they are there
and I think they are valuable. I believe that every student has a unique
set of talents
and a significant purpose in this world.
I constantly
seek to provide a safe and nurturing environment
for everyone. I have found that if
I take the time to truly connect with each student,
seeing him or her as a valuable individual, the foundation
is laid for success in the
classroom. It's all about relationships. It really
is true, "Students
don't care how much you know, until they know how much
you care. "
The second foundational conviction of my teaching philosophy can be summed up in the phrase, "Play Hard /Work Hard." My students can expect two things when they enter my classroom each day. One, we are going to work hard! Two, we are going to have fun! I strive to take my students on an adventure, while challenging them to explore their potential and the world around them.
Nothing can substitute for a teacher's enthusiasm and creativity.
Perhaps it was the string of boring teachers I had
in high school, or the fact that two of my own children struggle with
ADHD that motivates
me. Whatever the reason, I feel compelled to keep
my students actively engaged with a sense of wonder, adventure and
fun, as I place in their
hands the tools for success in education and in life.
I have found that students are eager to catch my enthusiasm and become
active learners
in this environment.
I hear voices from the past when I least expect it. For me, those voices represent the true measure of successful teaching. My worth as a teacher cannot be captured by awards or gauged by salary. At the end of the day, it's the voices of changed lives that remind me of the true glory and reward of teaching.
"Hey Mrs. Fenton, It's me again, Joey. I'm at the Cancer Treatment
Center in Tulsa. They say it's inoperable and incurable. I wanted you
to know ... I think I'm too young to die. Thanks, Mrs. Fenton, for
caring." As I hung up the phone, I thought about the hundreds
of students that I've had the opportunity to impact for a year or two.
That's when the voices of individual students flood my thoughts ...
That's why I teach ... That's why I want to make a difference. There
are other voices that need to be heard.
Educational
/ Professional Background
University Degrees
- B.A in Speech/Drama/English - East Central Oklahoma
State University
Teaching Experience
- 2003 to Present - Murphy Middle School, Theatre/Speech
Instructor
- 2001 to 2003 - Armstrong Middle School, English
Teacher
School
Principal Recommendation
It is with great enthusiasm that I am writing to recommend Judy Fenton as experienced teacher of the year. Judy has worked under my supervision as a theatre arts/speech teacher at Murphy Middle School since we opened in 2003.
First and foremost, Judy creates an extraordinarily student-centered classroom in which she fosters a highly creative learning environment. It is always obvious to me that Judy genuinely cares about her students and their success in her classroom, as well as in school as a whole. Students love and look forward to her class each day. She brings out the creativity of the most reluctant child and instills self-confidence through thoughtful, well-planned lessons.
She works closely with teacher teams throughout
the campus to help students in any way she can and
is well-respected in our community of parents. I
am further impressed with the quality of performance
her students produce in each and every theater production
and the enthusiasm and energy she brings to the classroom.
Judy oversees every aspect of a theater production,
from lighting to costuming to backdrop, and each
is refined to perfection before the curtain rises.
She also makes a concerted effort to include special
needs students in some capacity of the production.
Judy serves in a leadership capacity on several
of our campus committees and brings a wealth of knowledge
and experience to the fine arts department. Her various
accomplishments include Murphy PTA Lifetime Membership
honoree; growing the speech/debate program from 20
students to over 150 in one year; in our second year,
placing in the top three sweepstakes at each tournament
and earning 80 individual trophies; last year, in
five tournaments, earning 1st place sweepstakes in
all tournaments except one where she won 2nd
place out of all the middle schools; and this year,
out of two tournaments, winning 1st place sweepstakes
in one and 2nd place sweepstakes in the other with
58 individual trophies in the first semester!
In
addition, the theatre department has seen tremendous
growth since we first opened our doors in 2003.
She has over 120 students audition for each production,
and we have had to offer three performances to
accommodate
the crowds.
Judy is an outstanding choice for Experienced Teacher
of the Year and would be an excellent representative
of our district in this role. It is with great pleasure
that I recommend her to you on behalf of all of Murphy
Middle School.
Sincerely,
Ann Aston
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