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Teacher of the Year Blog - 1/31/2018
Isn’t amazing the places that life takes you? Last week was another example of a time when this thought popped into my head. I had the honor and privilege of joining the MD Teachers of the...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 2/11/2018
How many of you reading this blog are 80 years old? How many of you reading this blog are 80 years old and get up every morning at around 6am to be a substitute teacher? A week ago, the staff of John...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 3/14/2018
For me, this blog has been a venue in which I not only share my journey and adventures related to the title of “Teacher of the Year”, but it is also a way in which I can share my...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 3/20/2018
On Friday, March 16, the Teachers of the Year for Maryland met in Baltimore for the “Teacher of the Year Day of the Arts”. For this day,we were given a tour of the Walter’s Art gallery,...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 4/5/2018
Stop for a minute and think of a teacher that had a great impact on your life? For me, as I think of those teachers, the first thought that comes to mind is the way that they made feel. To the top...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 4/20/2018
Surprise! On April 4, 2018, I received one of the greatest surprise announcements of my life, being named HCPS 2018 Teacher of the Year. This surprise ranks right behind March 1994, more than 23 years...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 4/30/2018
Assessments: Snapshots and Big Pictures It’s testing season! As we complete this year’s standardized assessments, I’m always aware of a few thoughts that keep me grounded. While philosophical...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 5/23/2018
Lessons: Serve, Share, Live On May 9, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Service Recognition Dinner for Harford County Public School employees who have completed 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 5/30/2018
It’s official! We have two weeks left in the school year with our kids. Stay the course! One of the ways that I try to maintain momentum at the end of the school year is by having students engage in...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 6/26/2018
End of the School Year Highs Congratulations! The 2017-2018 school year ended on lots of high notes. School years are filled with highs and lows. For me, this one was a rollercoaster! Sometimes we...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 6/30/2018
Summer Learning! Let’s Get Ready On June 28, 2018, the fearless teachers of summer learning spent the morning preparing for the kick-off on July 9, 2018. I’m assigned to the Aberdeen site, teaching...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 7/31/2018
Welcome to RTOHC, Real Teachers of Harford County 2018 Summer Edition! Here's how we do SUMMER! Deanna Smith: "I just returned from a relaxing vacation in Emerald Isle, NC. We spent a week with 25...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 8/20/2018
The Real Teachers of Harford County (RTOHC) Summer Edition This summer, I taught in the HCPS Summer Learning Program at the Aberdeen High School site. I was excited to meet students from Aberdeen,...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 9/10/2018
Bad news first… A week ago, I learned that I was not selected as one of the finalists for the Maryland Teacher of the Year contest. As I reflect on my application submission, two things are...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 9/30/2018
Independent Reading This year, I am looking for new ways to get this year's group excited about independent reading. In previous years, independent reading was a required part of our class. We did...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 10/31/2018
One Lunch At a Time One of my great pleasures in teaching is that I am honored to meet many people who change my life in large and small ways. Last year, I met Evan as a 9th grader in one of my...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 11/30/2018
Real Teachers of Harford County Part III On October 12, 2018, I had the honor of attending the Teachers' Oscar Awards, AKA The Maryland Teacher of the Year Gala. It was a chilly night, but I was...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 12/31/2018
Happy New Year! As I reflect on this past year, I can honestly smile at all of the experiences and wonderful people that I have met in 2018. In December, I returned to my hometown of Washington, DC to...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 1/31/2019
On January 24, I participated in Annapolis TOY day to be recognized in the Maryland House and Senate. I arrived the night before, immediately running into Harford County Delegate Andrew Cassilly, who...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 3/3/2019
One of the many opportunities of the Top 5 Teachers of the Year is multiple opportunities to meet with the superintendent to advise him on HCPS matters. On February 21, the Teacher Advisory Committee...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 5/24/2019
The Teacher of the Year Experience: Part I. Overwhelmed. That is the only way to describe my experience since being named Teacher of the Year so far. I have been overwhelmed with...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 6/5/2019
Belated Teacher Appreciation Hello! Since I received the log-in information after the official Teacher Appreciation Week, and my first blog needed to address the Teacher of the Year banquet, I decided...
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My End of the Year Tribute to Teachers On June 18th I went to bed at 6:20 p.m. Not fell asleep on the couch, not dozed for a few minutes with my clothes and glasses still on, not rested my eyes...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 7/7/2019
Independence Day with the Teacher of the Year This T.O.Y position afforded me the privilege of being a part of both the Bel Air and Havre de Grace Fourth of July parades this past week. I’m not the...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 8/29/2019
Welcome back! So far, the start to the school year has been a very positive one. When I look on social media, I see so many posts with bright classrooms and even brighter smiles on the teachers...
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The Hero Within I am a hero. It has truly taken me nearly twenty one years in my teaching career to feel comfortable enough to make this statement with confidence and conviction; not because I do not...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 11/6/2019
Celebrating the Teachers Who Celebrate Me On October 25, I had the pleasure of attending the Maryland State Teacher of the Year Gala. It was a rare opportunity to get all dressed up and honor...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 1/2/2020
Accepting the Challenge of a Teacher of the Year Nomination I am back to blogging after a brief break. Who thought it would be a good idea to sell her house and move the day before Thanksgiving?...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 2/23/2020
Am I Enough? Last week I was fortunate to lead a professional development session with first year teachers. In our session we talked about the challenges that we face as teachers;, whether we’re in...
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See Ya Later; Not Goodbye It is hard to believe that my tenure as HCPS Teacher of the Year is coming to a close. At this time last year, I could not imagine the opportunities that this experience was...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 4/6/2020
And the Winner Is… This weekend over dinner, the topic of last year’s Teacher of the Year festivities came up. I don’t know if it was the warm, spring winds of nostalgia blowing in through my kitchen...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 4/28/2020
Disclaimer: To follow two English teachers on this Teacher of the Year blog is slightly terrifying. Go easy on me, please! Being named Teacher of the Year for Harford County Public Schools is a...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 5/4/2020
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! I would like to start by saying thank you. Thank you to all teachers, past and present, who have worked to make learning fun and engaging. The COVID-19 crisis has...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 5/21/2020
I just breathed a huge sigh of relief! Why? Because Advanced Placement (AP) exams are over! Phew! Many students challenged themselves this year by signing up for these AP courses. They completed...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 6/1/2020
Eleven years ago, I taught a class called African American History. It was an elective class, meaning students choose to take it or not. I wish I could say I had an overflowing classroom, but I...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 6/8/2020
An Open Letter to the Parents & Guardians of High School Graduates, Over the past few weeks several people have been writing to the graduating class of 2020. To be honest when I first sat...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 7/1/2020
Happy July! To all my fellow Hamilton fans...how excited are you for the Disney+ release of Hamilton on July 3rd!? I’m totally geeking out about that...if only I could have a watch party. July is...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 7/21/2020
So…virtual learning in the fall. What do you think about that? I’ve seen and heard a variety of opinions on social media and through the Town Hall, and there are a lot. I think everyone has their...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 8/3/2020
Last Wednesday the 24 Teacher of the Year recipients from each county in Maryland were recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). I was honored to be part of this virtual honors...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 8/31/2020
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of looking at computer screens. It is 3:30 on a Monday, I’ve just finished my first day of virtual professional development and you know what...this is hard! I...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 9/30/2020
How to Navigate a New Learning Environment Navigating this new virtual learning environment has me feeling a little bit like Louis and Clark. No, I do not have to worry about environmental dangers,...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 10/9/2020
Last night was the 2020-2021 Maryland Teacher of the Year announcement. Usually this is a gala event at a ballroom downtown. Well, not this year! This year Maryland Public Television hosted the...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 10/30/2020
Last week Harford Technical High School hosted our first ever Virtual Pep Rally! This was a live event, hosted in Teams for the entire school to participate in. The Student Government Association,...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 11/20/2020
If you had told me eight months ago that I would be “working from home” for the holidays I would have laughed at you. I am still very much in disbelief that we are living through this moment in...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 12/1/2020
Well, I can't say I thought I would ever live in a time where a teacher is working on a snow day. But here I am. This is kind of bittersweet isn't it? I mean-I'm glad I don't have to reshuffle plans...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 1/21/2021
I told myself I would do a New Year’s themed blog and here we are nearing the end of the month, oops. I’m sure you’ve heard that January is the Monday of the year. I’m definitely feeling that. I...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 2/9/2021
As Teacher of the Year, I am supposed to be the voice of the teacher. And I feel like in order to do that I need to acknowledge what many of us are feeling right now and that is stressed,...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 3/12/2021
One year ago, our world changed. In the days leading up to March 13th I remember US History students asking me, “Mrs. White, do you think schools are going to close for the ‘rona’?” And I responded,...
View ArticleTeacher of the Year Blog - 4/16/2021
I blinked and a year has flown by. It feels like yesterday that I was chatting with the other five finalists for HCPS Teacher of the Year (TOY) guessing at what HCPS would come up with since our...
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Teacher of the Year Blog - 5/11/2021
Surprised. Speechless. Nervous. Humbled. Guilty. Excited. These are just some of the words to describe the many emotions and thoughts running through my head on the evening of April 21st, a night I...
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