Please join us in congratulating Sarah Headland, our 2019-2020 Deerfield Elementary School Teacher of the Year. It is daunting to choose just one teacher to recognize as teacher of the year from among a group of such dedicated, and accomplished educators; this only increases the honor it is for Miss Headland to have been selected.
Sarah Headland was nominated for this award by her fellow teachers at Deerfield Elementary. She has a huge heart for kids, and it is clear to all who work with her that they are the reason she pours so much time and energy into her work at Deerfield. She truly believes every child can learn and takes ownership of her responsibility to see that each of her students grows. Her work ethic is nothing short of tireless. She can often be found working at school late into the evening and on most weekends, planning lessons for her students, in order to spend more of her time during the school day working with her students.
As our Reading Recovery and Title I teacher, she is a constant learner. She studies the art of teaching, refines her instructional methods, and shares what she’s learning with other teachers in our school. She consistently finds quiet ways to support her colleagues, never seeking recognition for doing so. Her passion for teaching is admirable and influential. We are all better as a result of working alongside her.
In addition to being an instructional leader in our school, Sarah has a genuine heart for her colleagues. She can often be heard saying, “What can I do to help?” and she means it. She sees when others around her are in need of a “pick-me-up.” Sometimes she supports us by sharing her resources and knowledge, but there are other times when supporting her colleagues looks like a simple note left on a desk, an uplifting email, or irresistible baked goods in the teachers’ lounge. Let’s be honest, cookies do in fact make problems feel smaller!
Those of us who work with her know she would prefer to avoid the spotlight that comes with receiving this award. We hope she will forgive us as we give her the recognition she deserves.