Thursday, February 25, 2016
The Westerville Education Foundation has named three educators Teacher of the Month for February – Teresa Momeni, Alcott Elementary: Karen Lee, Early Learning Center; and Summer Hale, Westerville South High School.
Teresa Momeni is credited for giving the nominating family’s son the strength, guidance and understanding needed to enjoy learning. As a result of her ability to quickly recognize developing issues and work with the family to address them, the family feels their son has made great strides and is well prepared for his future education. Constant communication from Mrs. Momeni helped the family identify and discuss instances where their son may have made a poor choice. As a result, they were able to help him learn what he should have done for each situation. “Mrs. Momeni manages a large group of children almost seamlessly,” wrote her nominator. “Her insight, and her freedom to act upon it, has proved most helpful to us and our personal situation.” The nominators said the support they receive from Mrs. Momeni couples nicely with their efforts at home. Witnessing her “choose her words and actions so deliberately makes me want to improve our parenting skills at home,” the nominator wrote. “We feel our son is finally responding to directions from any adult.”
Karen Lee and her nominator first met as a result of Mrs. Lee’s volunteer work to tutor students with Dyslexia and other reading disabilities. The nominator’s daughter, in 6th grade at the time, was reading well below grade level. “She tutored our daughter for an entire school year at the Masonic Learning Center,” wrote the nominator. “The results were absolutely amazing.” As the student progressed in her reading and advanced to the next grade level, Mrs. Lee secured tutoring for her during the school day. “I don’t know how she made it happen and fit us into her schedule, but for the past two years she has provided tutoring for our daughter,” the nominator wrote. “Our daughter is now a confident, happy 9th grader who loves to read.” Mrs. Lee has inspired the nominator’s daughter to become active in school and take ownership for her learning, prompting other high school teachers to note how hard the student works and participates in class. “We will forever be grateful to Mrs. Lee, as she helped bring out the absolute best in our child,” wrote the nominator.
Summer Hale’s nominator, a current student at Westerville South High School, describes her as a teacher who is “very helpful” and “explains everything when I don’t understand.” The nomination reads, “I always feel comfortable asking questions during class, because she never thinks a question could be a stupid question.” The nominator states that Mrs. Hale is very nice, understanding, and has made geometry more fun. The student noted that Mrs. Hale goes the extra mile to incorporate fun activities into her geometry lessons, and that she always has tool kit with resources that help students grasp challenging mathematical concepts and learn the lessons being taught. “She has inspired me to never give up, even when I’m stuck on a question,” the student wrote. “She always explains stuff even if it takes a while, she makes me feel confident in myself because geometry is a struggle for me.”
The Westerville Education Foundation’s Teacher of the Month Program is sponsored by Education First Credit Union and ThisWeek Community News, with support from Otterbein University. The Mission of the Westerville Education Foundation is to enrich the learning experience and broaden the minds of our students through the funding and support of innovative educational programs. To nominate, give or join, please visit www.WestervilleEducationFoundation.com.
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