Secondary Teacher of the Year
Kyle Christensen | Engineering | B.R. Johnson Career & Tech Center
How does it feel to be District Teacher of the Year?
Christensen: “It’s an honor to be recognized for
something that I love to do. It’s kind of mind blowing.
I’m totally in shock and surprised by it, but so proud
as well. For me, it’s not just a validation of what I’m
doing in the classroom. It’s also validation of what we
are doing at the B.R. Johnson Career & Tech Center.”
What makes you a special teacher?
Christensen: “I feel like I have my students’ best
interest in mind every day when I come to school, and
what I do is genuine. It’s a lot of hard work, and you
may feel like some of the things you do go unnoticed,
but the kids reco gnize it and that is reflected throughout
the class. I get excited to come to work every day and
work with these kids.”
What’s the trick to teaching high school students?
Christensen: “I think what it boils down to for me
is that I treat my students in a way that feels fair. My
students know that even if they are hearing something
they don’t want to hear from me, they still know it
comes from a place of caring. As a parent, I also want
to teach kids the way I would prefer my own kids to
be taught by their teachers. Making the connection
of knowing how important this job really is and how
influential we can be as teachers, it really puts an
emphasis on the importance of the job and makes it way
more meaningful for me.”
“
“
He has taught me skills
I cannot only retain, but also
use in day-to-day life.
Natalia Perez, Student
Talk about your opportunities to work with kids
after school.
Christensen: “Providing opportunities for students
to excel outside of the classroom is something that is
important to me. Not every student plays a sport or an
instrument. The Robotics Club has been a really neat
experience to do. We have a group of kids that are
totally enthusiastic about robotics. They would probably
come after school every day if we would let them. We
build robots, go to competitions, and we’ve also gone
to intermediate schools within Crowley ISD to do CO 2
car races with fifth-graders. We’ve been able to learn
from the Tarleton State University rocketry team.
Students have also had the chance to get internships
and job shadows at some really cool places that provide
opportunities that most high schoolers do not get.”
Check out our video about
Kyle Christensen, Crowley ISD’s
Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Summer 2018 | CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS 13