From Seed to Apple - 2017

By Washington State Teachers of the Year

From Seed to Apple is published annually. It's a book of inspirational stories & lessons learned from Washington's Teachers of the Year.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365626753

Book preview

From Seed to Apple - 2017

FROM SEED TO APPLE

Inspirational stories & lessons learned from Washington's 2017 Teachers of the Year

Volume VII

2017

Introduction

From Seed to Apple is a publication of the Washington Teacher Advisory Council (WATAC).

WATAC is a project of the Washington State Teacher of the Year program, which is administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). It was founded with a two-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The teachers in WATAC speak with independent voices. Their opinions, beliefs and viewpoints do not necessarily reflect, nor are they influenced by, the state superintendent or staff at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The names of all students featured in this volume have been changed unless permission for their use has been obtained.

A digital version of this publication is available for download at www.k12.wa.us/educationawards.

Subscribe for updates at bit.ly/SeedToAppleUpdates.

Copyright Statement and Policy

The author of each story published in this volume owns his or her own words. The stories in this volume may not be freely redistributed in other media, non-commercial or commercial publications. The stories in this volume may not be abridged, edited or altered in any way without the express consent of the author. The stories in this volume may not be sold for a profit or included in other media or publication that is sold for a profit without the express consent of the author(s).

© 2016. ISBN 978-1-365-62675-3

For our students.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Nathan Gibbs-Bowling

2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year

Lincoln High School

Tacoma Public Schools

No One Does It Alone

Elizabeth Loftus

Northwest ESD 189 Regional Teacher of the Year

Olympic View Elementary

Oak Harbor Public Schools

Against All Odds

Kendra Yamamoto

ESD 112 Regional Teacher of the Year

Martin Luther King Elementary

Vancouver Public Schools

Who Works Harder Than Charlie?

Tim Larson

Northeast Washington ESD 101 Regional Teacher of the Year

P.C. Jantz Elementary School

Odessa School District

Once Your Mentor, but Always Your Friend

Carol McKay

Capital Region ESD 113 Regional Teacher of the Year

Capital High School

Olympia School District

Bloom Where You’re Planted

Camille Jones

2017 Washington State Teacher of the Year

Pioneer Elementary

Quincy School District

Your Future Starts Now

John Gallagher

Olympic ESD 114 Regional Teacher of the Year

Port Angeles High School

Port Angeles School District

Dear Future Teacher

Alisa Louie

Puget Sound ESD 121 Regional Teacher of the Year

Evergreen Heights Elementary

Auburn School District

The Bounty of My Labor

Jose Corona

ESD 105 Regional Teacher of the Year

Kirkwood Elementary

Toppenish School District

About Teacher of the Year

Foreword

Nathan Gibbs-Bowling

2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year

Lincoln High School

Tacoma Public Schools

Teaching is one of the most essential careers in our society. Classroom teachers serve a multiplicity of roles in their schools and help shape students’ understanding and worldview. We are inspirers-in-chief. We teach everything from the ABCs to multiplying polynomials to construction trades to the intricacies of American campaign finance law. The path to a more just and equitable America will be paved through the work of teachers and our students.

Over the last year, I have had the pleasure of traveling the state and the country speaking on behalf of our profession and its societal importance. Much of the