By: Brendan Losinski | Fraser-Clinton Chronicle | Published March 5, 2024
FRASER — Fraser Public Schools selected its three Teachers of the Year this February, each of whom will be considered for the county’s Teacher of the Year awards for the elementary, middle and high school levels.
One teacher was selected from each grade level based on their performance and impact on students.
“The high school allows any teacher to nominate someone. Then the nominees are voted on by the entire faculty. The Elementary Teacher of the Year rotates through our six elementary schools. So this year, it was Emerson’s turn to have it. … At Emerson, teachers are selected using many factors (including) positive attitude and passion, experience, leadership, community involvement (and more),” Kristin Sommer, the district’s Director of Community Relations, explained in an email. “At Richards Middle School, teachers can nominate a colleague. The previous teachers of the year form a committee and select the winner from the nominees.”
Robin Jenkins, the second-grade teacher at Emerson Elementary, was selected at the elementary level. Principal Sam Argiri nominated her.
“There’s several aspects of teaching that we look for when choosing Teacher of the Year: rapport with students and parents, taking part in the community, leadership within the building and so forth. Robin Jenkins is an amazing teacher and hits all those marks,” said Argiri. “She is great at working with her colleagues and building positive relationships with students, families and staff. She treats the kids like they’re her own. I’ve worked with her for 13 years, and she’s taught kindergarten, third, sixth and now second grade and she’s done all of this at each level.”
Jenkins said teaching is very rewarding in and of itself, so the extra recognition is very touching.
“We work in our classrooms and teaching is a very rewarding profession in itself, and you get to watch students learn and push through challenges,” she said. “Seeing children learn is great, but when others recognize you, it really is a great feeling. They see how hard you are working and how dedicated you are.”
She stresses commitment and passion in her teaching style.
“To be a good teacher, you really have to have a passion for learning and really commit yourself to being a lifelong learner yourself,” said Jenkins. “Everything is always challenging. You have to keep it engaging and be passionate for having a positive impact on your community. It’s a tough job but it’s very rewarding.”
Sheldon Santamaria, the seventh and eighth grade instrumental music teacher at Richards Middle School, was selected for Middle School Teacher of the Year. He was nominated by social studies teacher Tara Fugate.
“He does an incredible job engaging his students through the band program,” said Fugate. “The sense of community in his classroom is long lasting, it’s very meaningful and it lasts long beyond their time in middle school. I find that really inspiring. That’s why I nominated him. All of the kids I spoke to about him mentioned how welcoming he is and how he is always positive and there for them. He helps them through problems and fosters a love of music that a lot of them really connect to.”
Santamaria said there are so many good teachers at Richards that it couldn’t have been an easy decision.
“I’m very grateful,” he said. “It was a little surreal because there are so many great teachers at the middle school. I was surprised but honored. It’s all kind of been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks.”
He focuses on connections with his students and creating a comfortable environment.
“I think what’s most important is making connections with kids,” said Santamaria. “If they are comfortable in the classroom, comfortable making mistakes and comfortable coming to you, they can come to you and trust you and they will enjoy their time in class and put in the work to learn anything.”
Tyler Westerhof, from Fraser High School, was the High School Teacher of the Year and is in the social studies department. He was nominated by social studies teacher and department head Jim Socha.
“His preparation is great. He is prepared for a year in advance in most things. He’s already working on next year’s lesson plans,” said Socha. “He loves history. He is always willing to help others out, whether it is technology or with lesson plans or just picking up some bagels for the staff. The kids love him. He’s a great all-around guy.” He’s only about 10 years in but I consider him a veteran. Some of the younger teachers would do well to look up to him and model their habits after him. He arrives early, he leaves late, he loves being in school helping kids every single day.”
Westerhof covers a variety of subjects for students throughout the school.
“I teach American history, AP American history, sociology and civil rights,” he said. “It’s obviously an honor to know that this award came from my colleagues. I think that the most impactful part is that they recognize and appreciate me. They help me grow as a teacher. I have only been teaching nine years, but they have been here since the beginning and I have leaned on them throughout my career.”
He also stressed forming a connection with his students in his teaching style.
“I think a good teacher is someone who can connect with the kids, personable and enthusiastic and form relationships and make connections,” said Westerhof. “Thank you to the parents who support us and put in the effort to work with us. It’s a group effort to put in this investment in these students’ lives.”