Ms. Tabron began her teaching career in Future Teachers of America when she was in high school. “I had really good teachers growing up and I loved English,” she said. Now, ten years later, her teaching career is rewarding her.
Being a student lucky enough to have Ms. Tabron as a teacher, I know what good teaching looks like: how engaging and dedicated she is to each student, the work she puts in after the 88 minute class period, the excitement in her eyes after one of her students grasp content. Therefore, when finding out she won Teacher of the Year, I could not think of someone more deserving of this recognition.
Students have this misconception that some teachers are out to get them, want to fail them, and don’t care about their own personal well-being. In fact, teachers relish the thought of students growing from their class. Although it has been a few years since I have had Ms. Tabron, I remember the attribute I loved most about her: The desire and ability to find the best learning style for every one of her students. She left no student behind. She ensured each student fully understood the lesson and had opportunities to grow.
Students don’t respond well to teachers who only give a 20-year-old textbook, assigned pages to read, and a worksheet due for a grade the next day on information learned in the book. When teachers put up Power Points with little to no explanation of the material in the notes, students feel lost and confused. Students also feel that it is difficult to retain content when teachers solely play videos with a film guide.
That being said, Ms. Tabron epitomises the perfect blend of all methods of teaching: exciting, informative, and flexible to all students. Her ability to come up with a lesson plan that gives students the freedom to show their knowledge in a way that works best for them, rather than a set assignment, instills her students with a sense of assurance. “She wants the best for all of us, and gives us the creative freedom to do so,” said Maggie Bell, current student.
Ms. Tabron says she chose the subject English over any others because “she received a lot of praise from [her] teachers and enjoyed helping [her] friends with their writing.”
As a person, Ms. Tabron loves to talk and read, and anything she would do on a regular, everyday basis, is something she could do in a classroom.
Someone who impacted her teaching career the most was one of her teachers and the examples she learned from that relationship. “I grew up loving my senior English teacher, Mrs. Daley, because she would give each student praise which gave them confidence to continue to work hard,” she said.
In terms of discipline and responsibility, Ms. Tabron learned that from her college band director, someone who “taught us how to balance all we had going on.”
When asked the most rewarding aspect of being a teacher, Tabron responded by saying it is “developing a relationship and getting to see the students when they get older. I love seeing how much they have grown in the subject, and hearing how impactful my class was upon them is nice to know.”
Due to her love of podcasts and television, she attempts to incorporate those ways of learning in to her everday teaching, by making it fit with common core standards. Her class is never repetitive, boring, or uneventful. “I hope to continue to learn and grow as a teacher, I feel like I have learned a lot but there is still so much I don’t know,” said Tabron, “so I hope to continue to expand my knowledge.” Her students feel she puts her students first and is “very helpful when you need anything and everything,” said current student Matthew Leveque.
Just last week, Tabron found out she was chosen from the entire body of teachers to receive the Teacher of the Year award, and it holds a special place in her heart. “I am really flattered,” she said, “because when I first got here I was really intimidated by everyone around me. Leesville is the first school I have worked in and at first I did not feel like I fit in.”
Charlotte Goto, a current student, feels as though Ms. Tabron “exhibits a lot of dedication to this class and works extremely hard to make sure we have a good time while doing what needs to be done.”
Therefore, five years later, to receive this recognition, Tabron said, “Having people assure me I am doing a good job is affirming and makes me feel valued and respected by my peers. I could not have a bigger compliment, and I am so appreciative.”
