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.
The teachers of Pine Street Elementary School in Spartanburg, South Carolina, teach a number of different subjects to students from kindergarten through the fifth grade. However, one unique idea guides all of the classroom lessons at Pine Street School: arts infused learning. According to the school's website, "Arts infusion is an approach to teaching and learning that integrates skills and content from an art form (dance, music, theater, visual arts, creative writing) with another subject area (mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, etc.)."
The idea behind this principle is to deepen students' understanding of the educational subject through the art form, and Mrs. Reisha Caldwell is particularly dedicated to arts integration within her classroom. Mrs. Caldwell is a fourth grade teacher at Pine Street School, and her subjects include both mathematics and reading/language arts. Katrina Robinson, the assistant principal at Pine Street School who nominated this week's teacher, said that she felt strongly Mrs. Caldwell deserved the recognition after witnessing her teaching techniques with students in the classroom. "She creates innovative ways to channel their energy into wonderful possibilities," Ms. Robinson said.
Mrs. Caldwell's positive attitude on a day-to-day basis is what truly sets her apart from the crowd. As Ms. Robinson explained, "Her strength shows through her teaching and her daily walk in life as she displays courage and love through her actions." Students and fellow teachers alike respect her truthfulness and enjoy her presence each day. Ms. Robinson also stated that Mrs. Caldwell is "an honest, fair advocate for all students and does not allow them to use excuses when they aren't putting their best foot forward." Sometimes tough love is the most necessary kind! Another colleague, Ms. April Volk, believes Mrs. Caldwell is an excellent teacher because "she brings excitement to learning for her students."
Ms. Miesha Greenlee, a first year teacher who team teaches with Mrs. Caldwell, also had wonderful things to share about her colleague's kind and helpful spirit. Mrs. Caldwell has been a mentor and friend to Ms. Greenlee during her first year as a teacher, helping her prepare her classroom at the beginning of the year and providing her with helpful resources for new teachers. Ms. Greenlee said, "She is not only an outstanding teacher that all of the fourth grade students love and respect, but she is also a super mom and wife that I look up to. I hope to one day be half of the teacher Reisha Caldwell is."
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The Scripps National Spelling Bee would like to thank Mrs. Caldwell for exemplifying a respectful and encouraging attitude in her everyday interactions. We have no doubt that this outlook toward her students and colleagues leaves a lasting, positive impression.
If you would like to nominate an educator for an upcoming “Teacher Feature,” let us know. Simply fill out your contact information, then nominate a teacher on the following page.