Teachers Touching Lives

Connie Kakoliris qualifies as “Educator of the Year” for many reasons. Ms. K (as she is lovingly referred to) is an asset to Meadow View Elementary School. She teaches second grade. This year, she is our lead teacher for our virtual students in Champions Virtual Academy. She is also our technology coach for our school. She wears many hats at Meadow View. Her innovativeness in technology has increased her instructional strategies and approaches that positively impact student achievement. She has also led several Professional Development classes on technology to help other teachers in our school. Her lesson plans are proof that she tries new ways to reach students in this digital age. She always volunteers to help wherever needed in the school. She comes early and helps children in the cafeteria and stays late and helps with afternoon carpool. Everyone in the school knows Ms. K and loves her!

Nominated by: Principal Michelle Brakefield

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Teachers Touching Lives

Lt. Col. Douglas Crabb is an outstanding teacher and an exemplary model of excellence for all other educators to follow. He is fully committed to the success of all his students, and the connections and relationships he has with his students are amazing. His ability to work as part of a team, and his relentless ability to go above and beyond for his students and colleagues are second to none. Lt. Col. Crabb is the lead instructor for the Thompson High School Air Force JROTC Program, which enrolls over 100 students on an annual basis. Lt. Col. Crabb has created endless opportunities for his students to be engaged in curricular and extracurricular activities, providing a platform for students who would not have these opportunities in any other capacity. He not only creates opportunities for his students, but Lt. Col. Crabb makes Thompson JROTC a home and family atmosphere for his students to be safe, engaged, and successful. Lt. Col. Crabb encourages his students to be the best version of themselves and inspires them to make a difference in the world. Lt. Col. Crabb has a sincere passion for his students’ learning and success, and he is a strong advocate for each and every one.

Lt. Col. Crabb constantly supports his colleagues, and he frequently shares valuable ideas, strategies, and practices with them. He considers his students and colleagues an extended part of his family, and he will do everything to ensure his classroom and the school environment are comfortable and secure for everyone. He is dedicated to ensuring that all of his students and colleagues realize their highest potential and succeed in whatever pathways they take. The positive impact Lt. Col. Crabb has on every individual at Thompson High School is deep and ever-lasting.

This past year, Lt. Col. Crabb was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a form of cancer that develops in the lungs. He has endured a myriad of treatments, appointments, evaluations, and surgical procedures. However, he continues to put his students first. He has missed a minimal amount of school time so that he can be with his students and continue teaching and supporting them in every way possible. Despite the risks and hardships of cancer, Lt. Col. Crabb continues to be focused on his students and his job as a teacher. Yes, we are the Thompson Warriors and Lt. Col. Crabb is the epitome of a true Warrior.

Nominated by: Principal Wesley Hester

Did you enjoy this essay? Vote for Birmingham Christian Family‘s Teacher of the Year on Facebook or by clicking below! To vote, like AND share this post! The winning teacher will win a two-night stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville and a one-day pass to Soundwaves plus a $40 Gift Card to Carrabba’s Italian Grill!

Teachers Touching Lives

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Mrs. Racheal Trice for the 2021 Teachers Touching Lives Award. Mrs. Trice has exhibited all of the aspects that I have wanted in a leader as well as a physical education teacher. She is passionate about students and has a determination to grow each day. Her colleagues often depend on her for guidance and partnership. Mrs. Trice has served as a mentor to new teachers as well as being an integral part of our interview committee. She also has done a fantastic job while serving as our FCA and First Priority Sponsor.

Mrs. Trice is the type of role model that every school strives to accrue. She is well rounded and a complete people person. Her colleagues would describe her as genuinely thoughtful, hard working, and an integral peer mentor. Parents trust her immensely, which speaks volumes to her character and ability to work with all people. Students and players respect her and often seek her advice on academics and athletic needs. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Trice works with students as head cheerleading coach and head softball coach. On behalf of her colleagues, I would highly recommend her for this award.

Nominated by: Principal Caroline Obert

Did you enjoy this essay? Vote for Birmingham Christian Family‘s Teacher of the Year on Facebook or by clicking below! To vote, like AND share this post! The winning teacher will win a two-night stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville and a one-day pass to Soundwaves plus a $40 Gift Card to Carrabba’s Italian Grill!

Teachers Touching Lives

Mrs. Shanks is my son’s special education teacher. Noah has Sensory Processing Disorder which comes with a learning disability. Mrs. Shanks has a precious group of 14 students in the 4th and 5th grade. This year has been especially hard for all teachers. But that has not caused Mrs. Shanks to not inspire learning, drive her students to be independent, and create an environment where they feel loved and important. For us, the time not in school was devastating. My child has struggled to write, read, and comprehend math. His was progressing so much when everything came to a stop last March. And the regression for him was bad. But when he was able to return to traditional class, Mrs. Shanks dove right in and got Noah back up to where he left off last March. She did this while also assuring us that our son would do great. Now Noah can write independently and legibly. He is reading so much and comprehends it! And gradually, math is starting to make sense to him. But what touches me so much is he has found the subject that is really his passion and that is Social Studies. Mrs. Shanks has made this subject fun and interesting much like every subject she teaches. Noah is excited about each new topic that they learn about in class. He is inspired to work hard and to push himself where he has weaknesses. What amazes me is that she has many children all with different needs. She has a plan for each of them. She has high expectations for each of them. And I don’t think there is one child that has come through her class that hasn’t benefited and grown under her leadership. We are blessed that she is part of our village. I believe she deserves so much recognition for her tireless work in Special Education.

Nominated by: Cheryl Humpherys, parent of student

Did you enjoy this essay? Vote for Birmingham Christian Family‘s Teacher of the Year on Facebook or by clicking below! To vote, like AND share this post! The winning teacher will win a two-night stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville and a one-day pass to Soundwaves plus a $40 Gift Card to Carrabba’s Italian Grill!

Teachers Touching Lives

When you get a kindergarten teacher that has been teaching for 36 years, you know one of two things to be true: she’s either crazy or your child has just been blessed with the woman by whom all future teachers will be measured. With Andrea Burk, you get the latter.
Once your child becomes one of “Burk’s Bunch”, they have just entered not only a classroom of learners, but a family full of love, laughter, wonder, imagination, and dreams. Sure, Mrs. Burk can tell you of academic progress, current teaching trends, and the like, but her eyes light up when she tells you about the kindness she sees, the ability to collaborate to solve problems, or how the children take care of and love one another. She so faithfully demonstrates love, joy, patience, and forgiveness to each child that this sense of family weaves its way through to how the children treat each other.

Mrs. Burk’s energy and zest for meaningful teaching and learning NEVER slows down. With her years of experience, she could easily recycle things that have worked in the past and coast through, but she doesn’t. The last day of the first semester, when many classrooms have taken down trees and cleaned up in anticipation of the break, Andrea’s tree is still glowing, FULL of hand made ornaments, and her tables have been rearranged to transform the room into the Polar Express for one more glorious day of fun. The stories of the commitment Andrea has as she devotes herself to helping her babies love to learn are legendary throughout Helena. There was the year that she converted her room to a baseball field the last week of school to keep students engaged until the end, or the time she turned the room into a campsite- complete with thematic reading and math stations that complemented learning requirements, or the countless Mother’s Day Teas she has hosted throughout the years. All of these things are well beyond what’s required to do, but she enthusiastically does them because she LOVES her babies. This year, in a time of so many changes, fears and uncertainties, Mrs. Burk has once again made her kindergarten classroom a place of safety, wonder, imagination and learning. To the woman who sets the bar unimaginably high for all future teachers, THANK YOU, and may you be blessed over and above for all you do.

Nominated by: Ashley Belew, parent of student