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First Year Teacher of the Year
Some people are born to be in the field of education. This expression stands to define Bob Lewis Elementary's First Year Educator of the Year, Ms. Melissa Torrez. As a Lewis special education inclusion teacher, she displays sensitivity at all times in working with her students. She offers strong support and encouragement to her students on daily visits. The students always anxiously await her visits. Her students appreciate the efforts she takes to ensure their success. To ensure student mastery of skills, Ms. Torrez often tutors her students on her own time, without compensation. It is not uncommon to see Ms. Torrez preparing materials with adaptations to assist her students. Melissa Torrez is in an ideal role for her bubbling and enthusiastic personality. She is able to make contact with many students and staff members each day. She takes the positive approach with her students. As she visits various teachers, she takes notes of successful management strategies that are being used. She then takes each of these and applies her own style when working with her students. Ms. Torrez communicates openly and consistently with parents, staff, and students. She is in constant communication with colleagues. In lieu of email or phone calls, she insists on face-to face conferences to discuss student achievement. She is always willing to participate in general education classroom teacher/parent conferences. If Ms. Torrez has a concern, she is always willing to go through appropriate channels to discuss the concern. She has excellent communication with administration and does not hesitate to provide valuable insight regarding campus needs. She is not afraid to ask for assistance from team members. She has frequent communication with her mentor to make sure her methods and approaches are thorough and efficient. Her mentor comments, “Ms. Torrez is doing a wonderful job of meeting the needs of her students. She has exhibited much professionalism in working with students, staff, and parents.” Ms. Torrez is a daily learner. She takes the initiative to learn all of the various roles of the Lewis Special Education Team. She visits these settings daily to help the students achieve their routine. She believes in all students being successful. In feeling this way, she is willing to assist teachers and administration with various situations on campus. She is a team player and it shows daily in her campus-wide actions. A teacher states, “The First Grade Team loves Ms. Torrez! She is always in the classroom settings. She is actively involved with her kids. She really knows her children and where they are at in their learning.”Lewis Principal, Sharon Browne, has mutual admiration for Ms. Torrez being at the school. “In addition to many other skills, the role of a special education inclusion teacher requires initiative and flexibility. Ms. Torrez has done an outstanding job in both areas. She provides excellent support for both students and teachers.”
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