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Top of the class

Kids are everything

The county's 20 nominees for teacher of the year agree that the classroom can hold fulfillment.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published February 3, 2005

INVERNESS - Twenty Citrus County School District teachers have been nominated at their schools as the school system's 2006 teacher of the year. These nominees and 28 nominees for school related employees of the year will gather at a dinner Friday, where one winner from each category will be announced.

Here's a look at the candidates for teacher of the year and their answers to the questions: "Why did you become a teacher?" and "What is the best part of your job?"

LINDA BOND, 56, teaches practical nursing at Withlacoochee Technical Institute. She has been there 10 years. "I love being a nurse, so what greater privilege than to teach what one loves to do?" Bond asked. She said she enjoys "getting up in the morning and coming to work. My students are so wonderful to spend 10 months with."

DANA FIELDS, 41, teaches family and consumer science/early childhood education at Crystal River High School. She has been at Crystal River for 17 years. "I enjoy young people and wanted to do something with them. I had several inspiring teachers in high school that were a big influence in my decision (to become a teacher.)" She said she enjoys "working with the students, seeing their challenges and successes."

ANNE GASKINS, 53, teaches seventh-grade math at Inverness Middle School and has been a teacher for 17 years. She is working toward her National Board Teacher certification.

She became a teacher "to share my love of books and reading, to create an interest in learning, researching in school and in life, and to watch the bulbs light up when learning takes place. My room is my stage to perform my lessons."

The best part of her job, Gaskins said, is "working with students, watching the learning process happen, creating lessons to adapt to my different learners, seeing past students in the "real' world setting and leading successful lives. I like to ask students what they remember about my classes, and it amazes me it is the little things they take in."

KATHRYN HANCOCK, 52, teaches fourth-graders at Floral City Elementary School. She has been there for nine years. Before becoming an elementary school teacher, she taught piano. "I have always enjoyed teaching children piano; however, I needed a change in my life. Children can certainly do that," she said. The best parts of her job are the planning and teaching. "We have a great time together."

KAY HARPER, 42, teaches grades 1-3 reading at Inverness Primary School. She has been there for 21 years. "I became a teacher so that I could instill a love of learning in others. The best part of my job is that I get to develop long-lasting relationships with students and teachers. I also love that I get to see students grow and mature into young adults," Harper said.

CYNTHIA HAYSLIP, 53, teaches eighth-grade mathematics at Crystal River Middle School. She has been there five years. Hayslip became a teacher, she said, because she thought it would be a "challenging profession, which would incorporate my love of learning," and the best part of her job is "seeing students succeed at something they did not believe they could do."

JESSICA HURLEY, 29, teaches third grade at Lecanto Primary School. She has been there six years. She became a teacher, she explained, because she struggled when she was in school and knew she could help make learning less of a struggle for her students.

The best part of her work is her presentation of lessons. "I am a bit dramatic and the classroom allows me to "strut my stuff' while teaching kids," she said.

DAVID JACKSON, 54, is the reading coach at Citrus Springs Middle School. He has been there for 10 years and has been an educator for 30 years. He became a teacher because he came from a family of teachers. The best part of his job is "establishing relationships with hundreds of families in the community."

LEONA F. JORDAN-WILLIAMS, 37, is an exceptional student education teacher in the communication unit at Rock Crusher Elementary School. She has been at Rock Crusher for six years. "I have always worked with disabled people, and it seemed natural for me to transition into the school system," Jordan-Williams said.

"The relationship that I have with my students and their families" is the best part of her job. "I have my students several years in a row. I share the joys and heartbreaks with my parents. The love that I have for my special students is what keeps me going."

LYNNE KIRBY, 45, teaches fifth-grade reading and language at Pleasant Grove Elementary School. She has been at the school for seven years. Kirby became a teacher "to make a difference in students' lives. Not all children have parents at home who are able to spend time with them. We can make a difference in their lives."

The best part of the job: "The kids! I enjoy helping struggling students turn around. The pride they exude when a job is well-done makes it all worthwhile."

CHARLOTTE D. MAY, 58, teaches Title I reading at Homosassa Elementary School. She has been an educator for 26 years and at Homosassa for six. She explored elementary education while taking classes at Western Kentucky University. "After a few courses, I was hooked. I haven't looked back since," May said.

The best part of her job: "The children. They are my babies."

MATT MCCRAINE, 35, is a teacher on special assignment at CREST School. CREST is the county's center for students with disabilities. He is a behavior teacher who assists classroom teachers with particularly difficult behaviors. He has been at CREST for 10 years and in his current position for four.

He became a teacher to help children with life skills in general, both social and educational. He finds the behaviors with which he deals challenging and says it is satisfying to redirect a child from disruptive behavior back to the business of learning.

LINDA MOORE, 43, is a math and reading resource teacher for grades 1-5 at Forest Ridge Elementary School. She has been a teacher for 20 years and has been at Forest Ridge for five.

"I was surrounded by wonderful teachers, including my mother," Moore said, "and (teaching) was an innate calling for me. The best part of teaching is helping each student discover the magic of learning. Each student has possibilities waiting to be discovered, and it is our commitment, as educators, to help each student succeed to his or her fullest potential."

DAVID B. NELSON, 49, teaches economics at Lecanto High School. He has been there 16 years. He said he became a teacher because "it seemed like a good idea at the time." And the best part of his job is "when I interact with my students, motivating them to learn."

JANE NELSON, 53, teaches social studies and world history at Citrus High School. She has been there 30 years and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She became a teacher, she said, because "I tried several types of work and decided that I enjoyed teaching and working with teenagers." She said she enjoys "the kids. They always have something new to say or new ways of looking at information."

STEPHEN NORTON, 46, is an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Lecanto Middle School. He has been there six years and has been an educator for 22 years. "As a college sophomore," Norton said, "I took part in a course where I worked with special education students in a physical education classroom. I was hooked and I changed my major to education the next day.

"The best part of my job is seeing that I'm making an impact with my students each day," he said. "As a class, we all enjoy being in the classroom. That upbeat setting breeds success."

SHAUNA PARRISH, 45, teaches speech and language at Citrus Springs Elementary School. She has been there five years. She has a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association and worked more than 20 years as a speech-language pathologist.

"I wanted to become a speech-language pathologist as the ability to communicate is fundamental to a person's quality of life. Being able to improve someone's ability to do so is extremely satisfying because you know it will affect every level of his or her life," Parrish said.

She enjoys "being able to collaborate with families and other educators to make positive changes in students' lives."

PAT RUNDIO, 52, teaches physical education at Hernando Elementary School. She has been there eight years. She became a teacher, she said, "because I've always enjoyed sports and I had great P.E. teachers who inspired me." Rundio enjoys "seeing the successes of my students as they learn, accomplish and share motor skills."

TED VAN VOORTHUIJSEN, 54, teaches world geography and U.S. history at the Renaissance Center. He is in his third year at Renaissance and has been a teacher for 29 years. "I enjoyed working with children and history and sports. Teaching allows me to do all of those," Van Voorthuijsen said.

"The best part is seeing students gradually improve in behavior, knowledge and skills and learning to love learning. These are times when students begin to turn from disinterest to interest, from hostility to friendliness. These times are the best!"

DONNA C. WHETZEL, 59, is a math and reading Title I teacher at Crystal River Primary School. She has been a teacher for 29 years, six of them at Crystal River. "I enjoy being with children," she said. "It's a place where I think I can make a difference. I take special pleasure as children find themselves successful."

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 01:07:17]