Stephany Wall, Excellence in Teaching Awardee

		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

Jasper High School Spanish II & Spanish II Honors Teacher Philosophy of Teaching Professional Background Principal Recommendation E-mail Congrats to Stephany

Philosophy of Teaching

As a little girl, I remember how I felt when asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My eyes would open wide as I smiled and unapologetically replied, “A teacher.” As my first year of teaching Spanish progressed, I started to realize that there was more than perfect lesson plans. It took a special student to help me understand that teaching was more than memorizing vocabulary and subject-verb agreement. Teaching meant learning everything I could about my students in a way that would allow me to inspire them to be great.

'I know that they are achieving when I guide them to discover new language and then apply it to their world.'

My realization became my philosophy after I came across a statement by Søren Kierkegaard when I started working in Plano ISD. He said, “Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner; put yourself in his place so that you may understand what he learns and the way he understands it.” This idea has since been the driving force behind everything I do. If it means that I decide at the last minute to change a lesson in order to make it more personal or relevant to my kids, then so be it. I’ve learned that those adjustments are half of the fun of teaching.

To me, successful teaching occurs when my students look at content I’m presenting and figure it out in groups or on their own. I know that they are achieving when I guide them to discover new language and then apply it to their world. Sometimes that is as complex as writing a narrative about their family or as simple as a student telling me about his/her weekend all in Spanish. In order for my students to have these experiences, I, as their guide, must consistently reflect and search for ways in which to improve. My students deserve my very best and if I am fortunate, all that I do will positively affect each and every one of them.

'I strive to create lessons that promote 'ah-ha' moments.'

One of the many ways teachers can improve is by furthering their education. There is no better example for a love of learning than a teacher taking advantage of the resources at hand here in Plano ISD. I have been very blessed to have the opportunity to be a member of various committees and teams. It’s these experiences that motivate me in such a way that I refuse to accept nothing less of myself than to meet the needs of every single one of my students.

I strive to create lessons that promote “ah-ha” moments; when both sides of the bell curve are achieving at their potential. Perhaps the most important part of these lessons is the fun that drives the discovery. A student that had fun while learning returns to my class the next day excited. At the same time, I feel it is my duty to share these moments with my colleagues and to serve as a motivator for others to try new ideas in the classroom. I like to encourage team members to think outside of the box in order to help every student learn, no matter their style or preferences.

'In my classroom the students are the teachers.'

My students know how passionate I am about their learning and how important their ownership of that learning is. I involve them in what I am doing; I do not simply teach them. In my classroom the students are the teachers. I ask them to discover each new concept and explain the how-to and why of the grammar to me, not the other way around. I create an environment where students teach each other because they understand the importance of knowing why; not just choosing the correct answer. This means some days we are writing songs and singing at the top of our lungs, while other days they are acting out a story to show me that they understood what they read.

In order to reinforce grammar concepts the students discovered on their own, we may play charades. My students know that my intent is for them to experience learning in as many fun ways as possible so that a concept is meaningful to all of them; so that they can own it.

Educational / Professional Background

University Degrees / Education

• M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction (University of North Texas) degree expected - 2010
• B.S., Secondary Education (Kansas State University) - 2005
• B.A., Spanish (Kansas State University) - 2005

Certification

• 2007 to 2012 - Spanish (6-12) SBEC, (Texas)
• 2005 to 2014 - Spanish (K-12) KSDE, (Kansas)
• ACTFL Oral Proficiency Exam (ON) - Spanish, Passed 2005
• Texas Oral Proficiency Test (TOPT) - Spanish, Passed 2007

Teaching Experience

• 2006 to present, Spanish Teacher, Plano ISD
  Currently teaching Spanish 2 and 2 Honors at Jasper High School
  Responsibilities include:
  • Developing Spanish proficiency in listening, reading, speaking, and writing
  • Planning and preparing lessons utilizing student-centered approaches
  • Writing quizzes and exams aligned with the curriculum
  • Creating the Level 2 team’s curriculum calendars for each grading period
  • Conferencing with parents and utilizing initiatives for student success
• 2005 – 2006, Spanish Teacher, Blue Valley USD (Overland Park, KS)
  • Taught Spanish exploratory and Level 1 at Harmony and Leawood Middle Schools

Curriculum Experience

• 2007 to present, Curriculum Writing Team, Languages Other Than English, Plano ISD Responsibilities include:
  • Using Curriculum By Design Model to create overviews, units, lessons, and traditional and performance assessments for Spanish II and II Honors
  • Serving as a facilitator and curriculum-support resource for Spanish teachers district wide
• 2007 to present, Campus Differentiation Coach, Differentiation Resource Team, Plano ISD
• Receiving training to help implement and support initiatives on campus by teaching staff members how to connect with students and use effective differentiation methods for curriculum instruction to close achievement gaps and target individual student needs.

Leadership Experience

• 2007 to present, Department Team Leader, Languages Other Than English, Jasper High School (Plano ISD). Responsibilities include:
• Providing curriculum instruction and support
• Planning the master schedule
• Managing the department budget and maintaining textbook inventory
• Holding team meetings to provide support and discuss goals
• 2008 – present, Mentor Liaison / Program Coordinator, New Teacher Mentor Program, Jasper High School
• Providing mentor training for new mentors
• Coordinating bi-weekly meetings and providing year-round support
• 2007 – present, High School Representative Committee Member, Plano ISD District-Based Improvement Committee
• Interpreted data and reviewed district initiatives in order to set district-wide goals for TAKS score improvement and completion rates
• 2007 – 2008, Freshman Orientation Coordinator, Jasper High School
• Wrote curriculum and planned lessons for 500 freshmen participants
• Coordinated three-day program schedule

Professional Presentations

• Fall 2008, Co-Presenter, Texas Foreign Language Association Conference, Houston, TX
• Co-wrote and presented “Developing a Suite of Assessments” – a presentation instructing teachers on how to use proficiency guidelines and Curriculum By Design to align their assessments with district goals and current teaching methodology
• Spring 2008, Presenter, Texas Foreign Language Association Conference, Corpus Christi, TX
• Wrote and presented “Show Me What You Know: Performance Assessment for a Purpose” – assisting teachers on how to create effective assessments and rubrics guided by ACTFL speaking proficiency guidelines
• Spring 2009, Presenter, Southwest Conference on Language Teaching, Corpus Christi, TX
• Wrote and presented “Show Me What You Know: Performance Assessment for a Purpose” – teaching teachers how to create and use effective rubrics guided by ACTFL speaking proficiency guidelines

Professional Memberships

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
• Southwest Conference on Language Teaching
• Texas Classroom Teachers Association
• Texas Foreign Language Association

Honors

• Jasper High School 2009 Teacher of the Year

School Principal Recommendation

I am honored to recommend Ms. Stephany Wall as the Experienced Teacher of the Year representing Jasper High School. Stephany is a teacher of Spanish, assists all the Spanish teachers as she is the team leader, and serves as the mentor liaison coordinator for Jasper High School.

As the new principal of Jasper High School, I quickly learned that Stephany is a leader on the campus in various capacities. With our incoming freshmen students, she helped design, develop and deliver a meaningful three-day orientation to any student interested in attending. She works to ensure our new teachers are successful and connected to the campus. Finally, Stephany serves on various campus and district committees in the spirit of helping all students become successful.

It has been a pleasure to spend time in Stephany Wall’s classroom. Her students are successful and excited to learn Spanish. She is able to make a challenging subject fun and inspires her students to learn. Stephany serves as a strong role model for all students as well as for staff members.

I feel extremely honored to recommend Stephany Wall to the committee for consideration as the Plano ISD Experienced Teacher of the Year. Jasper High School as well as Plano ISD is a better place to have Stephany as a teacher.

Sincerely,

Jeff Gasaway, Principal
Jasper High School