Nebo Teachers of the Year 2015-2016
Nebo School District Teacher of the Year -- Deana Coates
Westside Elementary
“Mrs. Coates exemplifies integrity, honesty, sincerity and shows dedication, loyalty, and energy. She creates a positive, comfortable learning atmosphere. Students feel safe to ask questions and pursue interests. Mrs. Coates understands the strengths and challenges that are unique to each student and caters to their level of learning and growth. She responds with love and understanding towards students with challenges. From the words of a student, ‘Mrs. Coates is the nicest and best teacher ever!’”
Judy Luther
Art City Elementary
“Mrs. Luther genuinely cares for her students. She is so engaging and gets on their eye level calling them by name. Mrs. Luther not only understands their academic needs but their emotional needs. She helps her students to succeed. Judy is often heard giving her co-workers positive words of praise. She fulfills her responsibilities with an energy that is upbeat and infectious. Students recognize her remarkable kindness and respect her leadership qualities.”
Clea Comte
Barnett Elementary
“Mrs. Comte makes a difference every day and teaches our students to become hard working, lifelong learners. She keeps five-year-old students engaged and learning the whole time. She has energy, love, and patience. Mrs. Comte treats all of the children with importance. Her love doesn’t end when they graduate from kindergarten. Children flock to her and tell her about their day. They know she genuinely cares. Mrs. Comte’s life is centered around her students. She loves and adores them.”
Kristi Jensen
Brockbank Elementary
“Ms. Jensen is a special education teacher for our UEI unit. She guides her classroom with firm direction that sets the course for these students to reach their full potential. She values their worth. Students trust her, love her, and are succeeding because of her. Ms. Jensen develops a great parent-teacher relationship. She is kind, patient, firm, but caring. She always has a smile on her face and makes learning fun. Ms. Jensen has a heart of gold.”
Kathleen Evans
Brookside Elementary
“Mrs. Evans is the kindest, most genuine, knowledgeable, and professional teacher. She is dedicated to her students, colleagues, staff, and administration. She makes everyone feel understood and loved. Mrs. Evans works with challenged students with grace and ease. She finds a way to deeply connect and support the student, both academically and behaviorally. Her dedication does not end at the end of the school year. It’s truly amazing to witness. Mrs. Evans teaches with patience, clarity, compassion, and devotion.”
Jamie Hamblin
Canyon Elementary
“Miss Hamblin is a joyful teacher. She promotes good behavior through proper and attainable rewards to which students respond well. She works hard and sends emails often updating parents on their students. She cares about students’ well-being. Miss Hamblin encourages, leads, and individually challenges each student to do their best. Students are genuinely happy and excited to go to school to be with a teacher that loves and accepts them.”
Amy Braithwaite
Cherry Creek Elementary
“Mrs. Braithwaite is a rock star teacher. Parents beg to have Mrs. Braithwaite as a teacher. She makes teaching look easy because she has such a calm presence in each and every situation. Amy always has a smile on her face. She is talented, patient, and a positive teacher. Parents feel comfortable asking her any question. Mrs. Braithwaite creates a warm and inviting educational atmosphere that encourages student growth and success. She is truly gifted.”
Lori Kofoed
East Meadows Elementary
“Mrs. Kofoed makes a difference in the lives of students. Her students love, admire, and respect her. Her classroom is bright, colorful, fun, and well-organized. Mrs. Kofoed’s interaction with students make it clearly evident that her focus is on increasing the success of her students. She works effectively with children with various abilities and aptitudes. Her students exhibit significant growth in all academic areas. She celebrates each milestone the students make in their academic growth.”
Lindi Lundell
Foothills Elementary
“Mrs. Lundell is knowledgeable in all subject areas of Utah State Core Curriculum for first grade. She has high expectations of herself and her students. She provides a caring and nurturing environment for students and communicates positively with parents. She has the ability to reach every child regardless of their ability. When children struggle with reading, she helps them read on grade level. Mrs. Lundell is a master teacher.”
Carrie Norton
Goshen Elementary
“Carrie is an inspiring leader. All her students remain engaged and excited about the learning process. The students question, justify answers, and are continually challenged throughout the school day. She creates an incredible learning environment where students feel safe and respected. Mrs. Norton individualizes lessons and makes them personal for every student. She will don a costume and rap with music to math divisions until the students can do them. She truly cares, loves, and inspires students to succeed. Mrs. Norton is an amazing role model.”
Carol Day
Hobble Creek Elementary
“Carol is always finding ways to peak teachers’ interest in the fine arts. She is responsible for the traveling art shows, enrichment classes, chess club, debate team, gifted and talented program, recycling program, PR, and math classes. She is the ultimate optimist and brings a calm and positive attitude to the entire school. Mrs. Day is a bright and caring teacher that wants all her students to succeed in life, even if they are more challenging to teach. She is the quiet and organized teacher behind the scenes to help all children succeed.”
Amanda Shepherd
Larsen Elementary
“Mrs. Shepherd’s students continually show growth and improvement because of the preparation, dedication, and caring she presents in each classroom. Her care and love builds an element of trust that commands respect; but more importantly, invokes a desire within students to achieve their potential. Mrs. Shepherd engages students in learning. She even makes the effort to go to the students’ ball games and activities. It’s clear she loves teaching, and it shines in everything she does.”
DeAnn Sanders
Maple Ridge Elementary
“Mrs. Sanders is an outstanding educator and colleague. She provides a nurturing, engaging, and enriching classroom experience for all students. She reaches students of all ability levels to progress including self-contained resource students and gifted students. Mrs. Sanders celebrates their strengths and helps them value their individual progress. She lights up each student’s life and exudes total love and joy for teaching. She is also magical with parents. Mrs. Sanders is the shining light for all to model and is the teacher of a lifetime!”
Kelsey Foster
Mapleton Elementary
“Miss Foster is an instructional leader in academics and with school culture. She is instrumental in leading her team with innovative STEM instruction including computer coding, inquiry-based science and math, engineering projects such as underwater remote operated vehicles, and more. Miss Foster loves students and instills a desire in them to achieve. She is a favorite among students.”
Jodi McKee
Mt. Loafer Elementary
“Mrs. McKee has an outstanding ability to love, motivate, and focus on each student. She also has a calming influence and listens and considers. Mrs. McKee has ‘motivators’ and puts detail into supporting, rewarding, and noticing each child’s engagement, behavior, and progress. She is clearly dedicated to education, and her communication with parents is amazing. She sends thoughtful and informational newsletters each week. She welcomes parent input and is delightful, energetic, and kind.”
Clay Craig
Orchard Hills Elementary
“Mr. Craig is one of the many unsung heroes. He always has a genuine smile. He teaches pottery after school and shares his talents. Mr. Craig believes in his students, inspires their minds, and fills them with much needed self-worth. He welcomes parents and is supportive and encouraging because he knows life is not always going to be easy. Mr. Craig is loved by students, parents, and faculty. He is a friend, confidant, and cheerleader. His zest and enthusiasm are contagious!”
Jennifer Sorensen
Park Elementary
“Mrs. Sorensen is dedicated to teaching and improving the lives of her students. She seeks ways to improve our school, and some of our best ideas that we implement each day come from her. She gives exciting science and math lessons. Mrs. Sorensen has outstanding character and abilities that effectively identifies potential problems and redirects the student’s focus. She has a gift to magnify student’s strengths and instills confidence and encourages students to do their best.”
Jared Broadbent
Park View Elementary
“Mr. Broadbent has the natural ability to motivate students to excel beyond what they thought they could achieve. He challenges his students to think bigger and work harder. Jared goes above any expectations and looks for ways to improve. He believes in his students and tells them there is no limit. Mr. Broadbent makes students feel like they matter!”
Sarai Memmott
Rees Elementary
“Mrs. Memmott is a leader and seeks out best practices. She shares her knowledge and helps other teachers to be motivated. She makes each child feel like they are the only children in the room. She is passionate about teaching and has the ability to get students reading within the first week. Mrs. Memmott gives everything she has to each one of her students every single day. She is a light for children to follow and forms meaningful relationships that will last a lifetime.”
Caryn Covington
Riverview Elementary
“Mrs. Covington is devoted to student and teacher success. She has implemented an effective student intervention committee to help struggling students. Often parents show tears of gratitude for the efforts and dedication of Caryn. Mrs. Covington makes students feel unafraid, welcomed, loved, and valued. She is nurturing and is aware of the needs of others. She is a blessing in students’ lives.”
Janeen Scott
Sage Creek Elementary
“Ms. Scott is a legacy, a beloved and respected teacher. She leads two student and one faculty chime choirs. She also maintains all the technology in the school. Ms. Scott teaches with humor, enthusiasm, wit, and innovative creativity as she engages her students with movie star charisma! The students actually squeal and beg to share their reading. There is not ever a student that leaves her class that has not learned to love a good book. Ms. Scott inspires students to become not only better learners, but better people.”
Amanda Hall
Salem Elementary
“Mrs. Hall has a creative and problem-solving tireless work ethic. She expects the best of her students. She values others and their opinions. Amanda started a track program and coaches students after school. Mrs. Hall knows how to make learning math fun and teaches songs for students to remember their math facts. She does whatever it takes to create a fun learning environment for her students to succeed.”
Marlayne Harward
Santaquin Elementary
“Marlayne has a love for teaching and her students. She is a leader and ensures all teachers learn the latest teaching techniques to increase student achievement. Mrs. Harward works hard for students to be their best. She communicates with parents on a weekly basis and knows how to make class fun for students. Former students and parents have fond memories of Mrs. Harward.”
Myles Peterson
Sierra Bonita Elementary
“Mr. Peterson is a teacher of the highest quality. He has enthusiasm for teaching and demonstrates genuine interest for children. He cares deeply about helping students to succeed academically, socially, and provides authentic experiences to develop student leadership skills. Mr. Peterson guides students in goal setting and to take responsibility for their own learning. Mr. Peterson is a gifted teacher!”
Jasmine Martin
Spanish Oaks Elementary
“Mrs. Martin is goal oriented and is keenly devoted to her teaching and students. She keeps a sharp eye on student understanding and realizes the importance of parental involvement. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to collaborate. She contributes meaningful teaching techniques and finds value in the ideas of others. Mrs. Martin makes learning fun and makes students feel good. Her classroom is a place where students want to be.”
Marie Garner
Spring Lake Elementary
“Mrs. Garner has a deep love and concern for her students. She focuses on each individual child. She spent months tutoring an ill child in the child’s home on her own time. Mrs. Garner built a strong relationship with another behavioral student, and he is now flourishing in school. She is known for her calm and friendly nature. Mrs. Garner inspires students to love learning and to strive for excellence.”
Cynthia Sumsion
Taylor Elementary
“Ms. Sumsion loves her students. She is always smiling, friendly and willing to do whatever it takes. She even does home visits of her students. Ms. Sumsion takes time to get to know and understand the student’s individual struggles. She makes students feel safe and secure. Ms. Sumsion listens to parents’ concerns and frustrations and eases their worries. She is kind, loving, and quick with compliments. She celebrates student’s successes. Ms. Sumsion truly is an amazing teacher!”
Deana Coates
Westside Elementary
“Mrs. Coates exemplifies integrity, honesty, sincerity and shows dedication, loyalty, and energy. She creates a positive, comfortable learning atmosphere. Students feel safe to ask questions and pursue interests. Mrs. Coates understands the strengths and challenges that are unique to each student and caters to their level of learning and growth. She responds with love and understanding towards students with challenges. From the words of a student, ‘Mrs. Coates is the nicest and best teacher ever!’”
Emily Sheets
Wilson Elementary
“Emily motivates children. She is aware of her students’ individual needs and has wonderful rapport with children, parents, and staff. She teaches with a loving and caring approach. Her students love and respect Miss Sheets. She instills confidence and believes in her students and wants what is best for them. She spends her own resources and time trying to help a student. Some of her students want to become teachers just like Miss Sheets.”
