Behind every great student is a great teacher. These teachers make spelling and vocabulary fun. They serve as spelling coaches, moderators and judges, but more often than not, they are simply motivators who encourage the students to be the best they can be. In the "Teacher Feature," we celebrate the men and women who educate the youth of our country.
You might say that teaching Language Arts at Heritage E-STEM Magnet School in West St. Paul, Minnesota, was Kristina Cooper’s destiny. She grew up attending schools in District 197 in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and her mother was both a high school English teacher and an avid reader.
Kristina earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin River Falls, and she has a master’s degree from St. Mary’s University. She has been teaching at Heritage E-STEM Magnet School since 2003, and coordinating the school’s spelling bee program is one of her passions.
What makes the program Kristina runs so special? It’s all about preparation and communication. Rick Halley, a colleague of Kristina’s, relayed that she “goes above and beyond to communicate to students and families about what to expect [during the bee], what to do to prepare, and how best to represent yourself and the school.”
Part of Kristina’s success stems from her talent for organization. In the classroom, Kristina is committed to organizing lessons that have the greatest impact on her students. At home, Kristina deftly organizes her family’s activities, which include cross-fit, weightlifting, swimming, advocating for the environment and, of course, reading. With all of that to juggle, it’s telling that Kristina still makes time to organize her school’s spelling bee program.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee thanks Ms. Cooper for fostering a fantastic spelling bee a tradition at her school and congratulates her for being this week’s Teacher Feature!
If you would like to nominate a teacher for the Teacher Feature, please let us know (fill out your contact information at the link and nominate the teacher on the next page).