Behind every great student is a great teacher. These teachers make learning fun by thinking outside the box and creating classroom experiences that resonate with their students. They serve many roles in their schools, as spelling coaches, school bee coordinators and judges; more often than not, they are motivators who encourage their students to be the best they can be. In the “Teacher Feature,” we celebrate these educators and their commitment to their students' education.
In this week's "Teacher Feature," we are celebrating the work of Deb Moline, a fourth grade teacher at Twin City Elementary School in Stanwood, Washington. Twin City Elementary is a part of the Skagit Valley Herald's spelling bee program.
Aarti Mishra, the father of two daughters who attend Twin City Elementary School, is very impressed by the caliber of the spelling bee program that Mrs. Moline runs every year. Living in a small town in Washington, he compares his daughters' school bee to other larger competitions that he has seen and knows their program is very professionally handled. Mrs. Moline works tirelessly throughout the year, distributing materials to the judges and officials, securing prizes for the winners and even coordinating with the PTA to get funding for a reception that follows the school spelling bee.
Working with students, however, is where Mrs. Moline truly shines. In his nomination form, Mr. Misha emphasized the fact that Mrs. Moline encourages students of all academic abilities to participate in the spelling bee program. She also makes sure to accommodate students with special needs, and we appreciate her dedication to including these students in her program. Mr. Mishra also explained, "Mrs. Moline focuses not on just 'who wins' but on the experience of being part of the bee, what you learn during the journey, the friends you make, and mastery of the English language." We couldn't agree more!
The Scripps National Spelling Bee would like to thank Mrs. Moline for making every single student in her spelling bee program feel special. The English language skills that her students take from being in her program will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
If you would like to nominate an educator for an upcoming "Teacher Feature," fill out this brief survey about the teacher you wish to nominate.