This is a great time of year! We get to celebrate our students and their success at campus award ceremonies. Last night was the Belton Red and White football game, and next week, our seniors will graduate.
We also get to celebrate incredible teachers. This week, we recognized the teachers of the year selected by each campus and the district¹s athletics, career and technical education, and fine arts programs. From that group, Craig Sullivan, a construction technology teacher at Belton High School, was selected as the district¹s secondary teacher of the year, and Michelle Robinson, first grade teacher at High Point Elementary, was named the district¹s elementary teacher of the year.
As part of the process of selecting the district teachers of the year, each campus or department teacher of the year completes an application. I love reading the applications, because they so clearly capture the passion that these men and women have for teaching.
At their heart, our teachers are learners themselves. Their practice is grounded in content knowledge and pedagogy. They have made a commitment to exploring new teaching strategies and continuously seek to hone their craft.
Our teachers are deeply connected to our community. They value business partnership and the hands-on experiences that those partnerships provide for students. They also want to help our students become better citizens by teaching them about community service and the importance of helping others.
But most of all, our teachers love our kids. They value the diversity of our students and treat each one with respect. They have great relationships with our kids and want to help them become great people when they grow up.
I believe in the difference that a great teacher can make. I believe in it, because I¹ve seen it in my own life. I saw it first as a student and now as a parent.
The teachers that we honored this week are outstanding, but in Belton ISD, they¹re hardly unique. I¹m grateful to work everyday with hundreds of educators who believe in what they¹re doing and in the teaching profession.
When our seniors graduate next week, first and foremost, we¹re celebrating all that those students have accomplished. We¹re also celebrating the educators who helped make it possible.
