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Kristyne Salley named Teacher of the Year!
Originally posted March 14, 2012
Kristyne Salley named 2011-2012 Union Teacher of the Year
Kristyne Salley, who teaches fourth graders at Briarglen Elementary School, has been named the 2011-2012 District Teacher of the Year for Union Public Schools.
The announcement was made during the annual Teacher of the Year reception Wednesday, March 14, at the Union Performing Arts Center.
Being named Teacher of the Year is one of the highest honors a teacher can receive at Union. Salley and Union’s other school site Teachers of the Year were honored at the reception.
“I want to have one-on-one conversations with every one of my students and get to know them both personally and academically,” Salley said. “I think building relationships with students and allowing them to set goals for themselves and teaching them what they want to learn to reach their goals is incredibly effective.”
Reaching those goals is especially important as high-stakes testing takes more prominence.
“I think the most important issue facing students today is high stakes testing,” Salley said. “I think students today feel a great deal of stress from third grade on because of standardized testing. I think it is incredibly intimidating for students to be forced to prove mastery in a format that doesn’t accurately show what a student can and cannot do. I also feel that because of standardized testing, valuable class time is spent doing test prep instead of inquiry and investigation activities. I think it is a huge disservice to our students.”
Ever since she can remember, Salley wanted to be a teacher.
“I started teaching at Union in 2007,” Salley said, “Union is the only district I know of that puts such an importance on collaboration and student achievement. I feel like Union sets the bar for the surrounding districts in terms of best practice. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of Union Public Schools and can’t imagine working for a different district.”
Salley received her bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and she is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership with an option in administration from Oklahoma State University.
Below is the presentation from the ceremony, featuring all of the Teachers of the Year
The Site Teachers of the Year are:
- Andersen Elementary – Michelle Naylor, fifth grade
- Boevers Elementary - Sharon Whitaker, physical education
- Briarglen Elementary – Kristyne Salley, fourth grade
- Cedar Ridge Elementary – Heather Lipe, reading specialist
- Clark Elementary – Heather Verner, first grade
- Darnaby Elementary – Kim Cipolla, third grade
- Grove Elementary – Celesta Catcher, first grade
- Jarman Elementary – Dixie Tate, fifth grade
- Jefferson Elementary – Stacy Otto, kindergarten/first grade looping
- McAuliffe Elementary – Kim Dyer, second grade
- Moore Elementary – Virginia Soukup, kindergarten
- Rosa Parks Elementary – Lisa LaFreniere, kindergarten
- Rosa Parks Early Childhood Education Center – Camryn Winters, three-year-old teacher
- Peters Elementary – Jan McDonald, special education
- 6th Grade – Janet Rogers, language arts
- 7th Grade – Kayla Dean, special services
- 8th Grade – Jeremy Stevens, choir
- Union Alternative School – Patt Mical, science/math
- Union Intermediate High School – Millie Gamble, ninth grade algebra
- High School – Jennifer Cole, science
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