Cape to select Teacher of the Year

Eight Cape Henlopen School District teachers are vying for a chance to represent the district as Cape's 2016 Teacher of the Year. District officials will announce this year's winner during a ceremony Wednesday, May 11. The winner will represent Cape Henlopen School District in the state Teacher of the Year ceremony held in September.

The following are the nominees in alphabetical order:

Amanda Archambault, Shields Elementary

A fifth-grade teacher at Shields Elementary, Amanda Archambault remembers an extended hospital stay when she was 12, and how the medical staff helped her through a trying time. Her experience as a child propelled her into a special education degree at the University of Delaware and later to a master's degree from Wilmington University.

“It is my memory as a 12-year-old girl who relied on the strength of others that led me to pursue a career in which I was that adult on whom a young child could depend,” she said.

In 2011, Archambault came to Cape as a teacher with Sussex Consortium. She later moved to Shields Elementary to teach language arts. She has served as a team leader, a teacher mentor and in curriculum and school leadership positions.

“I believe the time a child spends with me should be the best hours of their day, and I believe that if I have not inspired or sparked curiosity then I have not done my job,” Archambault said.

Khara Bauer, Beacon Middle School

At an early age, Khara Bauer saw teaching as a way of helping others, and she continues her objective as an English Language Learner teacher at Beacon Middle School. The Cape High grad completed an internship at Rehoboth Elementary during her senior year and continued an education degree at Elon University.

“I knew it was a passion of mine to create a learning space that encourages creative thinking, welcomes students to try something innovative, even if it is outside of their comfort zone, and to foster a home for students to express who they are when at school,” she said.

Bauer said she enjoys learning new teaching techniques and sharing them with her colleagues. She said she has written and won educational grants, and she hosts professional development sessions with the teaching staff. But her greatest joy is connecting with students.

“I am able to help students with dreary pasts look forward to an optimistic future and to take on learning for their own responsibility,” she said.

Melissa Dawson, Rehoboth Elementary

Rehoboth Elementary first-grade teacher Melissa Dawson said she didn't know what she wanted to be growing up. She entered University of Delaware as an undeclared major, but by sophomore year, a children's literacy course made her think about teaching. Working as a literacy tutor confirmed it. Dawson said the joy she felt teaching a 60-year-old man to read made her realize that teaching was for her.

“Knowing that I could make such a significant difference in someone's life through teaching also convinced me that becoming a teacher was what I was meant to do,” she said.

Dawson said helping her students achieve success is her goal.

“Creating a classroom environment that promotes a connection with the teacher as well as a connection among students is crucial before optimal learning can take place,” she said. “My students not only leave my classroom with academic knowledge, but they also leave with important life skills such as self-control, teamwork, cooperation and kindness.”

Carrie Evick, Cape High

Growing up, Cape High science teacher Carrie Evick says she looked forward to the end of summer because that's when she helped her father set up his middle school classroom. She went off to college anticipating a career in pharmacy, but a biology education course changed her mind.

“Now I witnessed teaching in action. I experienced the invigorating interactions between teacher and students,” Evick said. “It was better than I had ever imagined in Dad's empty classrooms in August.”

Evick has worked as a coach, a National Honor Society advisor and a teacher leader, helping modify the state's existing science curriculum to address new state science standards. Evick said she also enjoys helping students learn study skills outside the classroom through the AVID program.

“I want my students' learning experiences to be the best I can offer,” she said. “My greatest contributions to teaching and my greatest accomplishments are rooted in setting high expectations for my students and myself.”

Heather Marvin, H.O. Brittingham Elementary

Heather Marvin came from a family of teachers but attended Baptist Bible College, earning a secretarial associate's degree. She worked as a church secretary, for an advertising agency and later for a medical office before she realized teaching was for her.

“While I was working as a secretary, I was also teaching Sunday school. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the kids. It was the highlight of my week,” she said. “I had several people including my pastor and students' parents encourage me to go back to school and become a teacher.”

Marvin earned a teaching degree from University of Delaware, which led her to a third-grade teaching job at H.O. Brittingham Elementary.

“I am so privileged to be part of the teaching profession. My students inspire me daily,” she said. “Their love of learning reminds me of why I became a teacher and has continued to push me to be the best teacher I can be.”

Lisa Schlater, Milton Elementary

Milton Elementary kindergarten teacher Lisa Schlater said she graduated with a teaching degree but her greatest lessons have come from the classroom.

“Four years of college prepared me to teach math, reading and the like. What college did not prepare me for was the large number of students who did not or could not fit the mold,” she said. “It was then that my own transformation began to occur.”

Schlater said she strives to get to know each of her students and understand their unique abilities. She finds their strengths and works with them to bring them individual success.

“I know I have achieved this when I receive hugs and sweet notes from my little folks. I know I have achieved this when parents and caregivers tell me what a wonderful year their child has had,” she said. “I see evidence of this when parents who have been reluctant to embrace what I have to share, finally see that I only want what is best for their child.”

Terry Tappan, Mariner Middle School

Terry Tappan started her working career as a case manager for adults and children with severe cognitive and physical impairments. A state grant helped her earn a special education degree from the University of Delaware. She started as a substitute teacher in the Cape Henlopen School District, which gave her a chance to spend time in all the district schools and teach different content areas.

“I also discovered that I loved teaching middle school students. I enjoy that, while they are still young enough to respect teachers and try to please, I can relate to them on a somewhat mature level conversationally,” she said.

Tappan said she strives to be there for her students every day, helping them learn a lesson or making them feel safe and confident in her classroom.

As a sixth-grade special education teacher at Mariner Middle School, Tappan said, “The success of each and every one of my students, past and present, is my accomplishment and contribution to education.”

Pamela Willmot, Sussex Consortium

Since high school, Pamela Willmot said, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She was the first in her family to go to college and she thanks her teachers for inspiring her. Now as a Sussex Consortium teacher, Willmot said she passes inspiration on to her students.

“As a teacher, I feel that I have a chance every day to make a difference,” she said. “That is what I love about my job, and that is why I will forever be grateful to my teachers who instilled within me the confidence to become an educator.”

Willmot said she works to create optimism in her students who are despondent and frustrated.

“I truly believe that a student's future success is interrelated to how connected they feel to the academic institution,” she said. “I have confidence that an administration and staff who emphasize a sense of connectedness for the student can foster success to even our most challenging students.”