Diane Howell is Teacher of the Month – Feb 2015 – read more about her
Diane Howell, Learning Specialist Teacher at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School accepted her Teacher of the Month award from Sherry Phipps owner of School Crossing. Voting took place on WilliamsburgFamilies.com and School-Crossing.com.
Educator Diane Howell was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. Read on to learn more about this wonderful teacher we have at our local elementary.
1. How long have you been teaching and teaching at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary?
After being a stay at home mother until my children were in middle school, I became an assistant at CBB for 1 year. I got my masters at W&M and have been teaching for 12 years.
2. What drew you to teaching, teaching at CBB Elementary and to being a Learning Specialist?
My daughters and I volunteered in a mother/daughter philanthropic organization when they were in elementary and middle school and our favorite group to volunteer with was Special Olympics. Then in middle school they both chose working in a sped room as their elective. We all continued volunteering with ARC, an adult special needs group, and this grew into my avocation. One daughter is now a special ed teacher and has been a Big Sister in the Big Brothers organization for 6 years.
3. Can you mention a project where you were able to engage the kids outside of the classroom or stories that you heard where they brought their learning home?
I sponsor the girls’ running club at CBB and have gotten my students involved in participating in 5K races. My students are pushed in jogging strollers supplied by United Athletics so they get to experience completing a 5K race. My class also attends DreamCatchers every spring and to see the smiles on their faces will bring you to tears.
4. What perspective have you gained from being around children who learn differently and face different challenges than many elementary students?
Some of my students are the bravest people I know. A former student is blind, yet she worked every minute of the day learning Braille. She was always happy at school and couldn’t absorb information fast enough. She was friends with everyone and quite an inspiration for everyone who knew her. I also have some parents that are inspirational. The work they do to advocate for their child is amazing, yet they are realistic and we work as a team.
5. What do you want your students to be able to do when they leave your classroom – that you know will prepare them for further education and life in general?
I want my students to be able to advocate for themselves and to communicate their needs. I want them to be able to maximize their potential and to continually stretch themselves.
6. If you could ask parents to do one thing to help their children’s academic success what would it be?
Listen to them. Encourage them and be interested in what they tell you.
7. Are you from Williamsburg? If not, where are you from, what brought you here?
I was born in Pittsburgh, got married in Atlanta, and my family transferred to New Orleans, Nashville, Houston, and Amarillo. We moved to Williamsburg in 2001 to help take care of my parents.
8. Do you have any life lessons that the students in your class have taught you – maybe a short story about kindness, sharing or just one of your student’s observations?
Every day I have a life lesson. My students don’t see disabilities in each other and don’t recognize barriers. They help each other and celebrate each others’ successes I am also constantly amazed at the kindness of the general ed students at CBB. Because our school has a large special ed population, the general ed students interact with the students with special needs starting in kindergarten.
We thank Diane Howell for all she is doing. Thank you to all the community for voting!
To vote for March 2015 Teacher of the Month Click Here
Author
