Mrs. Keller, Superstar Teacher of the 2021-22 Year
By: K. Parker
Nov 14, 2022
Mrs. Keller, a co-department chair for the ESE department gives her thoughts on important traits to be awarded teacher of the year.
Mrs. Keller teaches mild intellectually disabled students in GA alternate curriculum. She began her career in 2022 at Henry County High and transferred to Patrick Henry after eleven years. After another eleven years, in 2016, she came to Woodland as an interrelated math teacher. When asked about why she thinks she won the award, she stated that she doesn't know herself, and still asks herself that today. “Honestly, I thought someone was joking with me because I teach very few students, and for the faculty and staff to value these students and her teaching of them with such high regard was very humbling. I still haven't really gotten to the point where I believe it happened,” she continues, “Maybe me giving them the opportunities and experiences to be able to explore themselves and grow is what everyone saw. There's nobody else in this building I'd rather teach. They’re remarkable kids, they give me a lesson in perseverance every day.”
Mrs. Keller believes that being humbly impactful is a very important trait. Being humble leads to better listening, increased collaboration, and a more compassionate leadership style. It creates a constant drive to learn. This quality leads to better outcomes. She ends the interview by expressing the importance of being cognizant and understanding. “Be cognizant of the difficulties that students have. Not only socially, emotionally, and academically. Noticing things is very significant. Taking time to notice the students passing by, taking time to recognize if a student isn't quite the way they were the day before when they walked by. And even though you might not know that student and that student doesn't know you, it's important for the teacher to let that student know that they’re seen, and if they want to be heard, there's a place to come to.”
Being aware of the people around you is a very important and meaningful leadership skill.
Nov 14, 2022
Mrs. Keller, a co-department chair for the ESE department gives her thoughts on important traits to be awarded teacher of the year.
Mrs. Keller teaches mild intellectually disabled students in GA alternate curriculum. She began her career in 2022 at Henry County High and transferred to Patrick Henry after eleven years. After another eleven years, in 2016, she came to Woodland as an interrelated math teacher. When asked about why she thinks she won the award, she stated that she doesn't know herself, and still asks herself that today. “Honestly, I thought someone was joking with me because I teach very few students, and for the faculty and staff to value these students and her teaching of them with such high regard was very humbling. I still haven't really gotten to the point where I believe it happened,” she continues, “Maybe me giving them the opportunities and experiences to be able to explore themselves and grow is what everyone saw. There's nobody else in this building I'd rather teach. They’re remarkable kids, they give me a lesson in perseverance every day.”
Mrs. Keller believes that being humbly impactful is a very important trait. Being humble leads to better listening, increased collaboration, and a more compassionate leadership style. It creates a constant drive to learn. This quality leads to better outcomes. She ends the interview by expressing the importance of being cognizant and understanding. “Be cognizant of the difficulties that students have. Not only socially, emotionally, and academically. Noticing things is very significant. Taking time to notice the students passing by, taking time to recognize if a student isn't quite the way they were the day before when they walked by. And even though you might not know that student and that student doesn't know you, it's important for the teacher to let that student know that they’re seen, and if they want to be heard, there's a place to come to.”
Being aware of the people around you is a very important and meaningful leadership skill.
