Trinity prize for excellence in teaching 2023

Three words are featured on the door of Jeff Wheatcraft’s classroom: “autonomy,” “mastery,” “purpose.”

Those are things the STEM coordinator at Alamo Heights Junior School wants students to keep in mind as they go about designing science projects and completing their coursework.

But the trio of qualities could certainly be applied to Wheatcraft himself — on Friday, he won the Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching, alongside Andrea Lucas, a 4th grade teacher at Lamar Elementary School.

In his classroom, Wheatcraft at times uses his personal interests to inspire his students. In the spring, Wheatcraft, who recently took an interest in amateur storm chasing, tasks his students with predicting the weather. As part of the program, they learn everything from analyzing weather patterns and radar maps to building their own instrument pods to collect data.

Upon learning he had won, Wheatcraft said he was grateful for the work he gets to do on a daily basis, especially because of his students.

“I believe in every kid, no matter what their background is, whatever people say their background might be,” he said during a ceremony at Trinity University. “I try to give every kid a chance.”

While Wheatcraft spends much of his time stimulating his students’ curiosity and creativity, Lucas has found herself focusing heavily on the social and emotional needs of hers at Lamar.

She has even helped them deal with trauma. During Lucas’ first year at the San Antonio Independent School District campus, she taught two students who lost family members to gunfire. A handful of students in her current 4th-grade class have been held back a grade level. Others have had brushes with the foster care system or have suffered other family hardships.

At the beginning of each day, Lucas sits in a circle with her students for “Tiger Time,” during which she shares personal stories that they then respond to on paper and discuss with their peers. The goal of the sessions is to help them better handle challenges in their own lives.

Receiving the award, Lucas said she has tried to be a “thoughtful and innovative educator” for her students.

“They really inspire and push me to be a better educator every single day,” she said. “They deserve the best.”

The top educators of 2018 were selected from a group of 19 finalists from the San Antonio area who were nominated by their school districts for outstanding teaching in the 2017-18 school year. The finalists were assessed for their performance as a teacher, demonstration of leadership and commitment to community service.

Trinity’s Department of Education has recognized the accomplishments of local educators since the 1981-82 school year, when it launched the annual contest. The two winners were awarded checks for $2,500, while the finalists each received $1,500.

Before the winners were unveiled, Sydney Chaffee, a humanities teacher at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Boston and the 2017 National Teacher of the Year, spoke of the importance of leadership in teaching.

Teachers need to have confidence in their abilities as leaders and remember that strong leaders “don’t all look the same,” she said.

“We need to see ourselves as leaders,” Chaffee said. “We can have influence far beyond our individual classrooms if we remind ourselves that we can define what leadership looks like, and that one person’s actions can have far-reaching consequences.”

Lauren Caruba is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | | @LaurenCaruba

May 19, 2022

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850-245-0413

Gilchrist County Educator Named 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year Finalist

~ Bell Elementary School’s Trinity Brooke Whittington is one of five finalists ~

Tallahassee, Fla., May 19, 2022 – Today, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) named Trinity Brooke Whittington, a fourth-grade English language arts and social studies teacher at Bell Elementary School in Gilchrist County, as a finalist for the 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year award. The announcement came during a surprise visit to Bell Elementary School, with Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality Dr. Paul Burns imparting the honor. The Florida Teacher of the Year program recognizes excellence in teaching and celebrates outstanding professional educators in schools across the state. The 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year winner will be announced on July 14 in Orlando.

“Great teachers not only impact their students, but also their schools and their communities,” said Incoming Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “My congratulations to Trinity Brooke Whittington for your selection as one of five finalists for the 2023 Florida Teacher of the Year award.”

“We are very proud of Trinity Brooke Whittington. She’s an outstanding teacher and excellent role model for our entire community,” said Dr. Jim Surrency Gilchrist County Superintendent.

“Mrs. Whittington’s classroom is a place of magic, where children are hooked from the moment they enter until the moment they leave. The relationships she develops with students, parents and colleagues are true and binding,” said Suzanne Mathe, principal of Bell Elementary School.

Trinity Brooke Whittington has lived in the Gilchrist community her entire life. She has served as a fourth-grade English language arts and social studies teacher for the past five years and focuses on creating engaging lessons that affect her students in positive ways. Mrs. Whittington also teaches about service by leading school-wide efforts to provide blankets to the local nursing home, and by starting a library swap program to promote literacy. Her personal academic journey includes earning a bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University, where she graduated summa cum laude.

Five finalists were chosen for 2023 Teacher of the Year from nearly 185,000 public school teachers throughout the state. After each school district selects its teacher of the year, a selection committee representing teachers, principals, parents and the business community reviews each district application on the basis of outstanding ability to teach and communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service. The winner will serve for one year as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education.

In partnership with the Florida Education Foundation, the Florida Teacher of the Year program is made possible by these generous sponsors: Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans, State Farm Insurance, Florida State University College of Education, Helios Education Foundation, Florida Blue Foundation, Florida Education Association, Herff Jones, Publix Super Market Charities, PNC Bank and Florida Power & Light Company.

To learn more about the Florida Teacher of the Year program, please visit Florida Teachers Lead.

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