Mrs. Ayers is an absolute rockstar for her high school students. Not only is she providing them with an amazing academic experience, but she also listens to them during times of need. She lends an ear and offers support and encouragement. They trust her and value her support. She is more than just a teacher to so many of them. Lori has the heart of a true angel. She empathizes with others and supports them during tough times. She stays late to help plan lessons and is always willing to offer support in the classroom when I need it. I can count on her to help me through tricky situations and not pass judgement during those times. Lori always keeps her cool and handles tough situations like an absolute legend. She has the patience of a saint. Mrs. Ayers has such a way with young children. Her direct and clear tone helps our littles through tough times. Not only does she handle the needs of the little friends, but she also takes care of the people she works with.
Ms. Beaird was informed of a situation with my son, and she came to where we were in the school to check on him. There was a day a couple of weeks ago when the family received bad medical news regarding the student's father, and while they sat down and gave the news to the student, Mrs. Beaird stopped what she was doing and rearranged her schedule to be there in that moment to comfort the student and provide support during a very emotional time. I can’t explain how much that meant to me because not only did she go out of her way to be present in that moment, but she got on his level and related to him with her own family experiences. It really comforted him and changed the whole trajectory of how the conversation would have gone if she wasn't there.
Vicki goes above and beyond every day by maintaining a safe and supportive environment for young children. She assists in the classroom by carrying out lesson plans and contributes greatly to the success of the classroom. She helps children gain confidence in themselves and in their environment. Vicki encourages children to use their imagination to fuel learning and creativity. She truly is essential to the educational environment. Vicki is a valuable role in our PreK program. For some children, this is the first experience they will have in a classroom or away from their family. Vicki provides a nurturing environment that makes all children feel safe, loved, and appreciated. Vicki encourages independence through problem-solving activities and provides children with praise and encouragement to motivate them and develop their self-esteem. She is responsible for helping to build a meaningful foundation to a child's academic career during one of the most crucial times of their lives. Vicki is a treasured part of Stonewall Jackson Elementary. She greets ALL students each morning with a smile on her face as she does morning duty. Every student at SJES knows that Ms. Vicki will give a "smile, hug and I love you" to start their day! Her laugh is contagious, her smile brightens your day but most of all her dedication to the students and her colleagues go far beyond the classroom!
Ms. Sizemore is always stepping up to help and never complains about it. If we are short staffed, she is always willing to step in anytime and anywhere she is needed, even on short notice. She is always helping think of fun things for her students to do and makes the classroom a great environment to be in. Ms. Sizemore has taught as an aide in multiple grade levels over the last 5 years and every student thinks she walks on water. This is a testament to how much she loves and cares for our kids. When the school year begins, teachers all want to have her in their grade level. If there was an aide of the year award, she would win it. Ms. Sizemore sets an amazing example for her students, and every student in our school. She comes to afterschool events to see students that she has had in previous years perform. She is such a positive person in our school. She has worked with Girls Inc as well and is a great role model for all students.