Nicole Vickerman, Excellence in Teaching

		Awards and Ratings Student Awards Faculty/Staff Awards Teachers of the Year District AEIS Data & Campus Performance State Accountability Ratings National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Plano ISD Assessment & Accountability

Clark High School World Geography Team Leader Philosophy of Teaching Professional Background Principal Recommendation

Philosophy of Teaching

I recently received a UNT graduation announcement from a former student. Inside he wrote, “You may not believe this, but this never would have happened without your class.” ... I had no idea l had this much of an impact, but it makes every effort worth the time. Several of my former students have recently decided to become teachers, and having them tell me that I inspired this choice is humbling.

As a product of Plano schools, I am one of many teachers in the district that returned to teach where we learned. The one thing that all my favorite teachers had in common was their enthusiasm. They were fascinated by their subject and found joy in sharing it with their students, and this is something that cannot be faked. Teaching is not a job; it is a personality trait, and I hope I am to my students what my best teachers were to me.

This year I began working with at-risk students in a credit recovery program. Since I was the co-writer of eSchool Geography, it has been a gift to see how the lessons work for students in person. I was told I would need to crack the whip, but instead I found all I needed to do was listen and encourage. I asked them to write their life stories in a page, and I heard tales of drugs, family problems and the difficulties of moving to a new place. I always try to remember that young high school students are fragile children however adult their shells. We worry about self-esteem, and there are few better builders than success hard earned.

Over the years I have come to love teaching every level from summer school to eSchool, night school, on level geography and advanced; each group has its unique challenges, and it is in the mix that I find the most satisfaction. Effective differentiation, altering lessons to fit the various levels of ability, is a critical foundation for educational success and is done most effectively by those familiar with diverse learners. Most teachers gravitate to one level, and I am proud of the fact that I have found success with many. I have seen for myself that the greater the variety, the greater the reward.

Gathering and analyzing data is a key component in effective writing, and few skills are more important in a globalized, email driven world. Success requires practice just as they would for football or the flute. Students must also become critical consumers of information; critical now that the world is available at the click of a mouse and bias is more common than fact. I tell them that when I was a student, we had to go to a place called a “library” and read things called “books” for research. The information age also creates a new twist on the ageless problem of plagiarism. Cheating can become a self destructive habit for the ambitious and overwhelmed, and I hope by bringing it into the light, we force them to think before they “paste.” This kind of character discussion is as critical as the content.

Teaching is my creative outlet, and a lesson that illuminates a concept for a student its greatest reward. Finding the right strategy is a challenge, and this combination of creativity and practicality suits my personality. The best lessons put the students in control, require both creative and critical analysis and provide a means for self-evaluation. When I manage this combination, I can sit back and enjoy a classroom filled with debate and motivation.

They remember that which they discover, and so in addition to inquiry-based lessons, I usually answer questions with questions. Effective questioning is an art. It is amazing what you can pull out of the teenage brain with patience and practice.

One of my favorite things about teaching is that the best teachers share their work; it is collaborative rather than competitive, and I have become the queen of email attachments. The recipient list has continued to expand, allowing me to influence students across the district and beyond. Teaching is about passing on my love of geography, and teaching other teachers is the perfect extension of this.

Whatever they choose to do, our students will be more connected to the rest of the world than any generation before them. Whether it is what they buy, where they work, or why they fight, globalization means that everyone will impact everyone else, and I hope our discussions will help prepare them for this reality. This is exactly why children need to study geography: to understand what is happening and why they should care.

I am passionate when it comes to education and geography. I consider teaching a responsibility as great as any job in the world, and I feel blessed that I love doing something that makes such a substantial positive impact on society. I hope my enthusiasm for geography is contagious to my students, and that they leave my class with a respect for and a desire to explore the varied cultures of the world.

Educational / Professional Background

University Degrees

The University of Texas at Austin — 1991-1995

• Bachelor of Liberal Arts, with Honors —3.7 GPA
• Major: History —4.0 CPA; Minor: Education; Geography

Professional Work Experience

Teacher, Clark High School (1997-Present)

• Team Leader, World Geography (2004 — present) — responsible for all World Geography curriculum
• Teacher, World Geography and Pre-AP World Geography (1997- present)
  
• Clark Junior World Affairs Council sponsor (2007 — present)
• 504/PASP/CARE coordinator (2005 — 2006)
  
• National Honor Society sponsor (1997—2007)
  
• Clark High School has been twice recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, most recently while I was a teacher. I was one of seven teachers selected to represent the school during the on-campus interview process.
  

PISD World Geography Curriculum Initiative Committee (2002- present)

• Responsible for overhaul of entire World Geography curriculum with focus on TEKS and long term comprehension. This includes rewriting objectives, suggested lessons, and the district final exam. This curriculum is followed by all of the World Geography students in PISD (about 4,000) and is published on the district’s curriculum website.
  
• Presentation and instruction related to curriculum for district professional development several times a year
  

PISD Pre AP/IH (Advanced Placement / International Honors) World Geography Curriculum committee (2004— present)

• Committee created the first unified Pre-AP curriculum for PISD. The focus is on preparing students for AP courses.
  
• Presentation and instruction related to curriculum for district professional development several times a year.
  

eSchool Course Creator/Teacher — World Geography (2002-present)

• Co-writer of entire World Geography online course. This course is entirely original and was written without a traditional textbook.
  
• The course provides an alternative option to complete the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills geography objectives.
  
• Entire course revised (2007), and it has been purchased for use by other school districts.
  
• While mainly serving PISD, eSchool has students from all over the world.
  

eSchool Campus-based Online Instruction Teacher — World Geography, World History (2007-2008)

• This unique credit-recovery program allows motivated students to regain credits at a fast pace. Because of the flexibility of the online format, students can complete two semesters worth of credit in one semester’s time with the assistance of a teacher in a classroom setting.
• All of the students in my CBOI course finished the first semester of world geography by the October deadline, allowing them to attempt and finish second semester by January. This is the first time that any student at Clark finished their CBOI course in time to take the second.
  
• The course also includes a MAPS component, character and educational development instruction that allows the students to earn an additional local credit. While using some of the provided resources, I constructed an original set & curriculum for this instruction focusing on personal responsibility, goal setting, self knowledge, and college and career planning.
  

Teacher, Plano ISD Summer School World Geography (1998-2001)

• Designed and implemented adapted geography curriculum for accelerated summer course
  
• Worked with variety of students from those trying to recover credit to advanced students working ahead
  

Teacher, Plano ISD Night School World Geography (Spring, 2006)

• Co-taught with Tim Murray, designed and implemented adapted geography curriculum for abbreviated evening course
  
• Worked with variety of students from those trying to recover credit to advanced students working ahead
  

SBEC / TEA Certifications

• TEA ID# 921345
  
• Secondary Social Studies Composite
  
• Secondary English; Secondary English Language Arts
  
• Gifted and Talented
  

World Affairs Council

• Founder/ Sponsor — Clark Junior World Affairs Council (2007 — present) — Students interested in international affairs work to increase their own knowledge and that of the school and community through education outreach, competition and charity fundraising.
  
• Organized holiday donation drive for 1 and 2nd Battalion, 503 Infantry Division, l73 Airborne stationed throughout eastern Afghanistan among Clark staff and organized by WAC (December, 2007)
  
• World Quest sponsor— High School Geography Competition (February 23, 2008)
  
• Great Decisions training at Region 10 (January 23, 2008)
  
• Attended the seminar on Fighting Global Poverty with four Clark Jr. WAC students (December 7, 2007)
  
• Attended Vicente Fox’s Speech, "Revolution of Hope” (October 12, 2007)
  
• Great Decisions Workshop (September 24, 2007)
  
• World in Transition Workshop (September 21-22, 2007)
  
• Turkey in Transition Workshop (April 3, 2007)

Japan Fulbright Memorial Fellow (Summer 2007)

• Competitive summer travel institute for social studies teachers
  
• Three weeks of seminars and guided tours, follow on series of lessons and presentations of materials to other teachers
  
• Created series of document-based, hands-on lessons based on information gathered during the trip covering topics such as Japan’s economy, government, education system, culture and history
  
• Presented information about applying for the program and lessons created at school and district professional development sessions
  
• Presentation to Clark HS staff (October 2007)
  
• Presentation at PISD inservice to social studies teachers (August 2007)
  

Transatlantic Outreach Program Fellow (Summer 2005)

• Competitive summer travel institute for social studies teachers
• Two weeks of seminars and guided tours, follow on series of lessons and presentations of materials to other teachers
  
• Created series of primary source lessons based on information gathered during the trip covering topics such as Germany’s economy, government, education system, culture and history
  
• Presented information about applying for the program and lessons created at school and district professional development sessions
  
• Presentation at PISD inservice to social studies teachers (August 2006 and 2007)
  

National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (Fall, 2006)

• Competitive 30-hour Faculty Development Institute on East Asia for teachers in North Texas
• Weekly three-hour seminars conducted by regional expert professors from universities like the University of North Texas and Southern Methodist University on topics like history, religion, and geography, concentration on China and Japan
• Follow-on consisting of detailed lessons plans and detailed information of the use of these lessons in the classroom
  

College Board Participation

• AP Geography Workshop, Richardson, Texas (Feb. 14-15, 2006)
  
• AP Vertical Team Regional Forum, Albuquerque, NM (Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2007)
  
• AP Geography Workshop, The Woodlands, Texas (Feb. 24-25, 2006)
  
• AP Geography Workshop, San Antonio, Texas (Feb. 11-12, 2005)
  

Population Connection

• Texas Leadership Institute (July 2006)
  
• Workshop Facilitator Training
  
• Present workshops that promote population education through active learning strategies
  
• Presentation at PISD inservice to social studies teachers (August 2007)

Professional Development

• Texas Education Computer Association Conference (TCEA), Austin, TX — highlighting the most innovative education technology programs to benefit all students (February 5-8, 2008)
  
• Learning Disabilities Association of Texas 41st Annual Conference, Austin, TX
  — extensive presentations on effective tools for students with disabilities (November 9-12, 2005)
  

Professional Organizations

• National Council for Geographic Education
  
• National Council for the Social Studies
  
• Texas Alliance for Geographic Education
  
• Texas Council for the Social Studies
  
• Plano Council for the Social Studies
  
• World Affairs Council — DFW
  

The University of North Texas — 1999-2002

• Master’s Degree in Education with specialization in gifted and talented curriculum, 4.0 GPA
• Program developed in cooperation with Plano ISD and UNT to allow Plano teachers to develop specialized skills among peers
• Focus on educational theory, motivation, cooperative learning, technology, action research and brain-based learning
  

Awards

• Experienced Teacher of the Year, Clark HS (2007-2008)
  
• Experienced Teacher of the Year, Clark HS (2003-2004)
  
• Beginning Teacher of the Year, Clark HS (1997-98)
  
• Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers (2001-07)
  
• Who’s Who in American Education, Marquis (2007-2008)
  
• National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers (2005-2007)
  
• Outstanding American Teachers National Honor Roll (2005-2007)
  
• Empire Who’s Who of Women in Education (2005-2007)
  

School Principal Recommendation

Dear PISD Experienced Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:

I am extremely honored and proud to recommend for your consideration Clark High School’s candidate for PISD Experienced Teacher of the Year, Nicole Vickerman. Ms. Vickerman is very deserving of this recognition for numerous reasons, among them being knowledge and background of subject matter, current incorporation of cutting edge technology and educational practices in classroom instruction, and outstanding collegial relationships within the district and around the world.

Ms. Vickerman is clearly an outstanding, highly motivated, and extremely knowledgeable social studies teacher at Clark High School. As geography team leader, she is a natural and has a strong curriculum background as well as superb writing skills. She has participated in district curriculum writing and is currently participating in professional development with the World Affairs Council and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia where she is creating and producing curriculum and lesson plans related to East Asia. She has previously been accepted and has participated in Fulbright Study-Travel Programs in both Japan and Germany.

Moreover, her many accomplishments include being selected by her peers and administration to represent Clark High School as the Beginning Teacher of the Year (1997- 1998), the Experienced Teacher of the Year (2003-2004 and 2007-2008), and Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers (2001-2007).

She is an honors graduate with a Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Austin (major: history; minor: geography) and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of North Texas. She has specialized training in gifted and talented curriculum, as well as educational theory, motivation, cooperative learning, technology, and action research and brain-based learning.

She is a highly skilled teacher that has the ability and depth to teach at-risk students in such programs as CBOI (Computer Based OnLine Instruction), yet reach and challenge gifted, PACE, honors, and AP students. In addition, because of her strong commitment to the needs of all types of students, she has previously served as National Honor Society Sponsor and as 504/PASP/CARE Coordinator.

On a district-level, she has been responsible for overhauling the entire world geography curriculum with focus on the TEKS and long-term comprehension. This includes rewriting objectives, suggested lessons, and the Plano District Final Exam. In addition, Ms. Vickerman has presented a wide variety of curriculum in-services as well as instructing other staff members in professional development activities on campus, at the district-level, and in other countries.

She has served on the committee that created the first unified Pre-AP curriculum for PISD, the focus being on preparing students for AP courses. She was also a co-writer of the entire world geography on-line course. The course was entirely original and was written without a traditional textbook for support. While mainly serving PISD, eSchool also has students from all over the world.

Finally, having been involved in education for the past 30 years in a variety of teaching and leadership positions, I can say without any hesitation that Nicole Vickerman is positively deserving of the honor of representing PISD as its choice for experienced teacher of the year!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Schmoker
Principal, Clark High School

E-mail congrats to Nicole Vickerman