Julie Lipscomb, 4th Grade teacher at Stonehouse Elementary School is March 2016 Teacher of the Month
Congrats to Julie Lipscomb, 4th Grade teacher at Stonehouse Elementary School. She was voted Teacher of the Month for March 2016 by the community on www.WilliamsburgFamilies.com and www.School-Crossing.com. Her picture appears in the Virginia Gazette on Wed March 30, 2016. Williamsburg’s Choice Teacher of the Month is sponsored by WilliamsburgFamilies, School Crossing and the Virginia Gazette. Please read more below about Mrs. Lipscomb! Vote here for next month’s Teacher of the Month!
1. How long have you been teaching and teaching at Stonehouse Elementary?
I have been teaching at Stonehouse Elementary for 14 years, this is my 26th year of teaching plus 4 years part time at the preschool, the Williamsburg Parent Cooperative Preschool.
2. What drew you to teaching, teaching at Stonehouse Elementary and was there any particular reason you chose to teach 4nd grade?
I can’t remember when I didn’t want to be a teacher! I remember playing school when I was little. When it was time for college, that was what I knew I wanted to do. I haven’t regretted it since. I had been home with my second child when I was ready to go back to teaching. I was really hoping that I could get hired at Stonehouse. One reason was that Liz Beckhouse was the principal and I had heard wonderful things about the school climate and learning atmosphere.
I just happened to be assigned to fourth grade when I was hired but I love the age of the children. I have a passion for history and Virginia history was a perfect fit. I also love the comraderie of my team. We really have the same philosophy and it just works.
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 love teaching Virginia history so I always get excited when the kids tell me they have travelled to a certain place we are studying with their family. Families will tell me they are going someplace special for vacation because their child’s interest has been evident from what we are studying. They have travelled to Civil War battlefields, museums, hiking in the mountains, or someplace farther. That is really exciting for me.
4. What perspective have you gained from being around 10 and 11 year olds all day?
I think the perspective is that there is always so much to explore and learn. The learning never really stops. They ask such good questions that I have to keep learning to answer them!
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 appreciate the power of reading! When you are a good reader, you can handle anything. Even the good readers need to appreciate how much reading can affect their lives.
6. If you could ask parents to do one thing to help their children’s academic success what would it be?
Let their children see them reading as adults. Be involved in picking out good books, talking with them about books, and model reading for pleasure. Nothing is better than curling up with a good book with your child.
7. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you and/or your class that you find you post, read, share or just meditate on?
A favorite quote that I always think of came from my principal, Liz Beckhouse. She always told the children before vacations, weekends to “read a good book every day” and I find myself telling them now on the way out the door before breaks.
8. Are you from Williamsburg? If not, where are you from, what brought you here?
I have lived in Williamsburg for 32 years! It is really more home than anywhere else. I grew up in Richmond. My husband was in the state park system and we were looking for a place to settle down. A job came open in Williamsburg and here we are. It’s a great place to live and raise a family.
9. Do you have any life lessons that the students in your class have taught you – maybe a short story about kindness, sharing or just a 4nd Grader’s perspective?
I think it is the unexpected kindnesses that happen during the day and how far it can go. I will see a student really cheer up someone just by a kind word that is unexpected. They also give me a compliment that is really sweet and it really makes my day. It makes you realize how much simple words from the heart can do.
Vote here for next month’s Teacher of the Month!
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