Congratulations to Mrs. Hallie Baskin, Science Mentor Teacher of the Year!
Mrs. Baskin is a physics and chemistry teacher at Jackson-Reed High School and has been teaching for 7 years. She finds the most rewarding aspect of teaching high school science to be that "light bulb moment" that students have when they master a concept that once seemed challenging to them. Mrs. Baskin is a graduate of the teachHOUSTON program (another UTeach replication program, similar to the GWTeach program) and her mentor teachers were some of the most influential people in her life. Much of her day-to-day classroom practice was developed from being in the classroom with her mentor teachers and observing them carry out the many responsibilities of teaching. Mrs. Baskin became a GWTeach Mentor Teacher, because she remembers how much a mentor teacher can influence a student's desire to teach. She believes the most rewarding aspect of being a mentor teacher is seeing how much fun prospective teachers have when they're in the classroom. So much of teaching is fun and she always says that there's never a dull moment. When prospective teachers come in and get to experience that joy and realize they're already making a difference in students' lives, that is the most rewarding part. This semester, Mrs. Baskin is hosting Emily Sullivan as her Apprentice Teacher, and next year they will be colleagues as Emily joins the science team at Jackson-Reed!
Congratulations to Mr. Gabriel Webster, Math Mentor Teacher of the Year!
Mr. Webster is a mathematics teacher at School Without Walls High School and has been teaching for 10 years. He really enjoys teaching high school math because the he finds that students finally have enough knowledge and skill to start making connections on their own and to really think like mathematicians. Also, his students now know enough to ask really hard questions that force him to think deeply about math and share that process with them. Mr. Webster became a Mentor Teacher because he believes teaching is a fantastic profession. Teaching keeps him connected with students and families in DC and allows him to share his passion with hundreds of students every year. He remembers his first few years of teaching to be incredibly difficult and wants to share what he has learned to help make it easier for others to find a footing in this great job. He also enjoys the challenge of reflecting on why he does the things he does, because it makes him a better teacher. Mr. Webster finds the most rewarding aspect of mentoring prospective teachers to be when he sees the students get genuinely excited about the Apprentice Teacher’s presence in the classroom. This semester, Mr. Webster is hosting Stephanie Myers as his Apprentice Teacher. His favorite thing about mentoring Stephanie is being able to sit in the back of the classroom and simply watch her teach a great lesson, knowing she is totally ready to crush it as a math teacher next year!