Pocahontas Teachers Of The Year Recognized By Board Of Education

Marlinton, WV – It was a night for recognition at the Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting Monday. The meeting opened with the recognition of this year’s Pocahontas Teachers of the Year. School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Law began the ceremony by reading comments from each of the individual school winners and the winner of the county teacher of the year who will represent Pocahontas in the WV Teacher of the Year competition. He started with the winner from the high school, Dr. Mali Minter.

“I try to inspire students to learn by example” says Dr. Minter. “I want to make learning fun and I incorporate many different learning styles in my classroom. I push my students to do the best and set high standards.”

Barbara Beard is Teacher of the Year for Marlinton Elementary School. Beard says rewards, praise and a love of learning all inspire her students.

“My mother, a retired teacher of 32 years always said, ‘You get much further in life with sugar (praise) than vinegar (negativism),” says Beard. “I’ve carried that philosophy in my life as an educator.”

Virginia Calhoun is the winner selected for Hillsboro Elementary School.

“I’m always looking for more ways to reach all students in my class,” says Calhoun. “My philosophy is that all students can learn, but the material has to be adjusted to a child’s ability or need.”

Rebecca Spencer was selected at Marlinton Middle School.

“Sparkling eyes, a nod of the head, a slow smile spreading across a students face – these are all tiny indicators of moment of Eureka!’,” says Spencer. “I’m continually striving for this moment in which everything clicks into place for my students and complete understanding occurs.”

Here are the comments from Anne Smith, science teacher at Green Bank Elementary Middle School and Pocahontas County Teacher of the Year.

“I inspire children to learn by showing them through example how much fun it is to learn,” says Smith. “I love my subject matter and the students know it. This attitude naturally transfers to the real thing and before they know it, they’re learning and liking it.”

Each teacher received an apple shaped bell, a plaque and a small gift. Last year’s Teacher of the Year Pam McCurdy helped hand out the awards.

But teachers weren’t the only ones recognized Monday night. Spanish teacher Shirlene Groseclose recognized middle school students who placed at the state level on the National Spanish exam. She explained that the seventh graders who took the exam were tested at the same level as eighth graders, meaning they were tested on information they hadn’t yet covered.

First place in the seventh grade is David Rose, a home schooled student whose mother doesn’t even speak Spanish. Second place is Vincent Harper, also home schooled until this year. Third place is Miles Goodall. Fourth place is a tie between Danielle Cain and Kayla Lester.

Ms. Groseclose also recognized eighth grader Frederica Gardner for getting fifth place on the exam, after competing with students at the high school level.

Dr. Law also recognized Greenbrier River Trail Superintendent Jody Spencer for the clean up of trail behind Marlinton Elementary School.