Snoqualmie Valle
y Macaroni Kid has named Snoqualmie Elementary kindergarten teacher, Joanna West, as its Teacher of the Month for June 2012.
Here is the nomination: “As any parent will tell you, taking your child to their first day of kindergarten can be a bit emotional. Not so much for the kids, as it is for the parents. You are sending your little one off to “real” school and you are glimpsing into the future as he/she passes from babyhood to school student. You want assurance that your child will be guided on the right path as they start the important first year of school.
From the moment Mrs. West smiles, and greets you and your child, you have that assurance your child is in the right hands. She has a way of genuine kindness as she challenges students, finding their strengths and recognizing that not all students learn in the same way. I have watched her skillfully working with the entire class, while making each student feel like she is only teaching to them. She has a way of caring and being tough, all at the same time!
Something that sets her apart is her stellar communication with her students’ parents. Kindergarten is the first time parents give up some control to another adult to shape their child’s future. As a parent, you want to know what is going on in the classroom. What letter sounds are they working on this week? What high-frequency words are they learning? What math skills are challenging them? Joanna keeps us up-to-date on the classroom and she supplies us with information to continue the educational exploration at home.
Joanna West not only sets high goals for her students, she has set them for herself. She is currently working on her certification to become a principal. I can only hope my daughter will be lucky enough to be at the school that Mrs. West will lead.”
Thanks to the support of sponsors, Mrs. West receives a $100 gift certificate to The Woodman Lodge, courtesy of Darin Robertson from the Cascade Team Real Estate Agency and the Woodman Lodge, a massage gift certificate from Therapeutic Health in North Bend and a plaque from Issaquah Trophy & Awards.
Congratulations!
