After 38 years, Frances Allen”s love for teaching continues to grow. She never fails to seek out and respond to students who need one-on-one help, even if it means cutting into her personal time.
“If you need help, she”ll teach it until you get it,” said Jarrell Peterson, an eighth-grader in Allen”s pre-algerbra class.
And she offers a little personality with, as she calls them, “lame jokes.”
“She brings fun to teaching,” said Eric Harris, also an eighth-grader in the class. “All the math could be difficult, but she makes it easy for us to understand and comprehend it.”
Friday, Allen was recognized for her efforts, not only with glowing reviews from students, but also with the announcement she is the 2010-2011 Columbus Municipal School District Teacher of the Year.
“I just love doing this,” Allen said. “I just love coming to school. I always have. Every day for a school teacher is different, and I”m not saying they”re always good, but the next day you have another chance.”
District officials and Columbus Mayor Robert Smith surprised Allen with the honor, during her fourth-period class at Columbus Middle School. Allen was so entrenched in helping a student, she didn”t notice district staff and media members enter the room.
“We got to witness first hand why she is getting this award. You saw, she was so into teaching, I had to physically stop her,” Columbus schools Superintendent Dr. Del Phillips said.
Allen models her own teaching after two inspirational teachers she had in high school in Arkansas.
“I had wonderful teachers growing up,” she said.
Teaching in a dozen schools in four states, Allen discovered “that most children want the same thing. They want to find someone who cares about them and their dreams.”
Allen embodies this theory, drawing out the best in each of her students.
“You embody everything that we want all of our teachers to aspire to be,” Phillips said.
“You put your heart and soul into teaching your students every day,” he continued, noting she had received the teacher of the year award in the past, at West Point School District. She has been a math teacher at CMSD for the past 12 years.
“I love doing it, so it”s not work to me,” she said.
“As an old educator and administrator, I know what this (award) means to you,” said Smith, who left his post as principal of West Lowndes Middle School to be mayor.
After just two weeks student teaching in Allen”s classroom, Mississippi State University student Leigh Holland of Hattiesburg already has learned a lot.
“The first thing she told me was to love the kids. You have to love the kids,” Holland said. “She says, ”Feel safe to make a mistake and free to learn.” And even though she disciplines the students, they all love her.”
“Every year I”ve been associated with her, she”s made a difference in their lives,” CMS Principal Cindy Wamble said. “She cares about them, has a relationship with them, and that”s all I can ask from a teacher.”
“She loves math, but she loves the kids more,” Holland said.
Wamble said Allen approached her about retiring a few years ago, but she couldn”t bring herself to leave the classroom.
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
School-level teachers of the year in the Columbus district:
· Cook Fine Arts: Courtney Langford
· Franklin Medical Sciences: Sharon Fondren
· Fairview Aerospace and Science: Barbara Temple
· Sale International Studies: Vicki Gerhart
· Stokes-Beard Technology and Communication: Robert Brown
· Hunt Intermediate: Jennifer Butts
· Lee Middle: Frances Allen
· McKellar Technology: Lynne Sneed
· Columbus High: Courtney Stanback
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