Congratulations to our April Teachers of the Month: Jacqueline Hart, Erika Hines and Amanda Ostendorf! Thank you to everyone who nominated teachers this month. Take a look at some of the wonderful things their nominators shared about these outstanding educators in Westerville City Schools and be sure to nominate the amazing teachers in your school! https://www.westervilleeducationfoundation.com/teacher-nomination
Special thank you to Education First Credit Union, who sponsors our special Teacher of the Month program each month. Winners get $100 to use in their classroom fund, they are featured on our website with past winners, and they get the fame and glory this month.
Congratulations to these teachers and thank you to ALL our Westerville City School teachers for all that you do to support our students!
Jacqueline Hart - Genoa Middle School
“I nominate Mrs. Hart for teacher of the month. She is kind, she explains things really well and she always tries to make us feel comfortable. This is my first year in middle school, and it has not been easy doing it blended. She teaches me advanced math, and even though it’s been virtual, because of her patience and skill I’m learning it well! Once I didn’t do very well on a test, but based on my previous work she let me correct my mistakes. That meant a lot to me. She notices my character and ability. Please select Mrs Hart for teacher of the month.” - student of Mrs. Hart
Erika Hines - Alcott Elementary
“I am recommending Mrs. Hines for this nomination because of her true passion and commitment to teaching and her true desire to want to see her children succeed no matter what that looks like. Mrs. Hines has made what seemed like an impossible year "Possible". She understands what is important and has made a huge impact on my daughter and I will be forever grateful to her for getting us through one of the most difficult years we have ever faced. At the beginning of the year when the children returned to school virtually, I had a conversation with Mrs. Hines about the dynamics we had at home. My husband is a teacher in the district and was reporting into school which left me home with both my daughters to "Home School" them while attempting to work full time. I expressed my concern to be able to keep up with it all. Mrs. Hines took that to heart and truly offered every opportunity to be available to my daughter when she needed extra help. During virtual days, Mrs. Hines would jump on video chats with my daughter to help walk her through, sometimes this occurred during her lunch hour or during the moments (literally) of peace she may have had. When the kids went back hybrid she still continued to help my daughter via email throughout the day which was a huge help for me being able to maintain my job and workload. It was a balance for sure that Mrs. Hines helped to manage and we truly wouldn't have made it through without her help with it all. I wish I could say that was it, however after Thanksgiving my daughter was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Mrs. Hines was super helpful in getting us caught up and managing all the work we missed. On top of that, the anxiety I had sending my newly diagnosed daughter back to school was at its highest and Mrs. Hines' compassion and attention to detail pertaining to my daughters health has been so reassuring. “ - parent of student
“Having just moved to Westerville last summer, our kids were new to Alcott this school year. Our third grader had been having some difficulties at his school in Arizona last year but we were unable to address them once everything went remote. Within a couple weeks of school at Alcott, Mrs. Hines emailed us to set up a zoom meeting because she could already see our son's struggle. She took the time at 8p on a weeknight to meet with my husband and I to discuss her observations, make a game plan for getting us in touch with the school psychologist, figure out ways she could support him in the classroom while he was in-person, and quickly get him in supplemental groups so he didn't fall completely behind. She has been in constant contact with us when we need her help or input and I know she is ready to get us to the next clear step for his success. I've noticed she has also encouraged him in the areas where he shows strength to fend off feeling completely defeated by his struggles. “ - parent of student
Amanda Ostendorf - Fouse Elementary
“Amanda Ostendorf goes way above and beyond everyday for her students and all students at Fouse. If there is a student in need of any kind of additional support Amanda will carve out that non-existent time in her day to meet with the student. She will take things to their homes when parents can't make it to school for pick-up. She has been known to find bicycles for students who need them. She routinely shops for clothes for students in need with her own money and lets them go shopping with the things that she has purchased. She is an intervention specialist and is rocking this hybrid learning. Always encouraging students when home is not the best environment to be learning in! Because of the relationship that she has built with her students they want to show up for their virtual learning time, just so they get a chance to interact with her!” - colleague
