As the school year closes out, WMS celebrates one last group of teachers.  The June teachers of the month are pushing their students to succeed and maybe do some summer reading.

Ms. Rodak, the 6th grade teacher of the month makes students work hard so they can “see what they can accomplish” while also understanding when to “stop and have fun.”  Rodak says, “I love when my students understand a lesson and I see it finally click like the light goes on and it finally hits.” One of the best moments she’s had, involved students running up to her in the parking lot and telling her just how much they appreciate her.  It truly shows the connection she has with her students.

In 7th grade the teacher of the month is Ms. Warantz, who is determined to help her students succeed and is willing to do “everything” she can to help them.  Warantz chooses to motivate students with prizes, “We’re doing a candy activity because candy is a great motivator. So I definitely use lots of prizes.” One of the moments she “loves” to see in her students is when, after struggling, a students face “lights up” because they finally get it.

The 8th grade teacher of the month, Ms. D’Orsi, says her approach to motivation is “internal,” hoping that they will want to be “better for themselves for present and the future.”  Along with teaching and motivating her students, D’Orsi works towards her own goals, “I think every day I try to learn, I don’t want to settle and be mundane and boring, I just love trying new things,” she says.  A “memorable” moment in her teaching career, was when she was teaching at the elementary level with beginner readers, and she’ll “never forget” the nine year old she helped finally understand how to read.

As a finale to the 2018 teacher of the month series, WMS chose both outstanding and inspiring teachers to wrap up the year.  To all the teachers that didn’t win this year, step up your game and we’ll see you in September.