2004-2005 Sacramento County Teacher of the Year Carol Cleland
Although Cleland currently teaches a 3rd grade GATE class, she鈥檚 taught every level from first through fifth. In the essay she submitted for the competition, Cleland stated, 鈥淚 love teaching elementary grades because I am able to re-discover all of my favorite subjects including math, science, reading, writing and history. This age group enables me to stay young at heart.鈥�
Cleland believes that the most influential teacher for any child is the parent or guardian. 鈥淚t is with this in mind that I strive to form an alliance with the parents and student in order to maximize the potential of the child,鈥� she said. In doing so, she feels she has a privileged role as the teacher. 鈥淚t is my role to stimulate, encourage and support the unique qualities in the children I teach,鈥� she added.
Asked about some of the memorable moments in teaching, she
recalled a class of summer school students who made it clear they
would rather be someplace else. 鈥淭his class was punctuated with
groans when told them of my plan for a writing program,鈥� she
remembered, 鈥渂ut I worked out a system that included free writing
with a structured format. Each week the enthusiasm grew. By the
fourth week, they were asking for more time to continue their
writing and eight students skipped recess to write.鈥�
She also recalled one student in particular who stayed after
school to work on an essay until she deemed it perfect. The young
lady won second place in the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Essay
Contest. 鈥淚 could not have been more proud to see her with her
parents as she accepted her award,鈥� Cleland said.
Magical moments happen in her class 鈥� like the morning her first
graders walked into the classroom just as eggs in their incubator
were hatching into chicks. 鈥淚 know my children will always
remember those tiny little peeps.鈥�
With every class she鈥檚 taught, Cleland believes she鈥檚 learned and
grown from the experience. In turn, she knows she influences her
students. 鈥淭here is a little bit of me sprinkled on the lives of
my students as we share our love of learning together.鈥�