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Sagaskey named Marion Teacher of the Year

Sagaskey named  Marion Teacher of the Year

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By RALPH HARDIN

ralphhardin@gmail.com

Even with campuses closed, instruction must go on and teachers don’t stop teaching just because there’s a pandemic.

With the school year winding down, the Marion School District took some time to recognize a handful of its outstanding educators last week.

Kindergarten teacher Sarah Sagaskey was announced last Friday as the Marion School District’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

Sagaskey, who teaches at the Marion Math, Science & Technology Magnet was said to be “honored and overwhelmed by the love and support from her magnet family at MST and her community.”

She has been with the district 10 years and expressed what a privilege it is to work with the best educators every day teaching their hearts out to their students.

“I am thankful for such a supportive team, MST is the place to be!,” said Sagaskey.

Her success is due in no small part to her faith. She said she truly strives to have a classroom that honors the Lord and the calling he has placed on her life. At a young age she had a passion for educating children and ministering to their families. Her

See TEACHER, page A3

Marion School District Teacher of the Year, MST kindergarten teacher Sarah Sagaskey

Photos courtesy of the Marion School District

Sagaskey (right) with a few of her kindergarten students.

From page A1

own education was something she struggled with, she had a deep desire to learn but the learning didn’t come as natural to her as it did for others. She worked hard and used her experiences to impact her students today.

“I believe when given the right tools, all students can learn and achieve,” Sagasky said. “Students learn in different ways and I _nd it important to know your students and be able to meet those individual needs.”

She _nds motivation from her colleagues and students everyday to keep giving her best.

The district also announced Teacher of theYear selections for each of its other campuses. From Herbert Carter Global Community Magnet RoShawnda Dennies was their choice. Dennies, a 12 year educator, was chosen by HCGC as their 2020 Teacher of the Year. Dennies has been with the district 5 years and is elated that HCGC picked her to represent their campus as an example of teaching excellence.

“I love what I do everyday,” said Dennies. “However, I’m not always sure I’m doing the right thing, so it’s nice to be noticed.”

She said she feels like at HCGC she has found not only an excellent work environment but a family. She is happy to show up at work each day. She appreciates her paraprofessionals because without them she’d be completely lost. Her motivation to be the best comes from a memory from her teachers. She knows that students never forget good teachers and bad teachers. She wants to be a good memory for her students for being a positive example to them.

At Marion’s Visual Performing Arts Magnet, Whitney Hall earned the honor. Hall said the VPA caught her by surprise She said she’s worked with many outstanding, talented educators that being named their Teacher of the Year is something she’ll treasure. Mrs. Hall fell in love with Marion during her internship and 5 years later she’s still with Marion. She couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. Her VPA family is supportive and always willing to help in whatever way they are needed and offer words of encouragement.

“I appreciate them more than they could possibly imagine.” said Hall, whose background in theater makes her a perfect _t for VPA. “I’ve learned so much about music, art, and dance by working with my Encore team. They’ve made me a better teacher. Whenever one of us has a project going on, it is a team effort. Everyone jumps in to help. I am grateful I never feel like I’m alone in my efforts. We are all working together toward a common goal and that’s our students and what is best for them. I can’t say enough great things about my colleagues at VPA.”

Her motivation to be the best is simple.

“It’s what my students deserve,” she said, adding because she loves what she does so much, “it doesn’t feel like work.”

Hall believes the arts are so important to children because it teaches them so much about life and collaboration and how to set goals and reach them. She loves seeing them have the freedom to be themselves and _nd their creative outlets. She, like her colleagues, knows when they leave VPA, their experiences here are setting them up for success in the future. That is the biggest motivation of all. She cannot wait to see what amazing things her students accomplish in the future.

Marion Junior High chose as its 2020 Teacher of theYear Krisma Smith. She’s been with the district for four years. She said she was honored to be selected by her colleagues. She has always appreciated the supports she receives from those she works with in participating in some of her crazy ideas.

“I’m happy to be a part of Marion Junior High,” said Smith. When asked what has been her motivation for being an educator she jokingly said “The money of course,” before adding, “honestly, my students are my motivation.”

She said growing up in a poor area where education isn’t a priority and she now teaches in a similar area, has given her the motivation to help struggling students by providing them a safe and loving place where they can learn and grow in con_dence. Smith also many hours outside of class as the sponsor for the MJHS Debate Club and Co-Sponsor for the MHS & MJHS Robotics teams.

Jeanette Skipper, a veteren of 35 years and 14 of those years with the Marion School District was selected by her fellow educators as their 2020 Teacher of the Year. She was overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness toward her colleagues at MHS. Skipper said, “As a 2020 retiree, this honor is such a fantastic way to end my teaching career.”

Skipper said she has enjoyed her work with the fun loving educators at the high school. She absolutely loves teaching students. When she was in school she was lucky to have some pretty great teachers. She noticed they were aware of her needs in their class. That became her motivation to be a great teacher for her students. Her goal has been to be the teacher each student needed to become a great math student. She wanted her students to leave her class knowing they were loved and capable of doing anything they wanted to do.

Sagaskey (back left) with a couple of her fellow MST teachers and students in their white lab coats.

Photo courtesy of the Marion School District

ROSHAWNDA DENNIES

WHITNEY HALL

KRISMA SMITH

JEANNETTE SKIPPER

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