A lifetime of influence
Evers Park ’ s Carrie Martin earns national award thanks to former student
Second-grade teacher Carrie Martin poses with former student Ti Anna Bridges-Reed in front of Evers Park Elementary School . Mrs . Martin won Barnes & Noble ’ s national Teacher of the Year award as a result of Ti Anna ’ s essay describing the faith her former teacher placed in her academic abilities .
PHOTOS BY ANTHONY TOSIE
For teachers , the results of a student ’ s educational advancement are often seen primarily over the course of a year . For Evers Park Elementary School teacher Carrie Martin , one student made it her goal to show how that impact can last a lifetime .
Thanks to recent graduate Ti Anna Bridges-Reed , Mrs . Martin recently received Barnes & Noble ’ s national Teacher of the Year award . Mrs . Martin beat more than 10,000 entries submitted by students nationwide to win the award as part of Barnes & Noble ’ s “ My Favorite Teacher Contest .”
In her essay detailing why she felt Mrs . Martin should win the award , Ti Anna wrote that Mrs . Martin gave her the encouragement she needed to succeed both academically and as a person . That encouragement helped Ti Anna pass a state-mandated test for the first time .
“ Mrs . Martin was the first teacher I can ever remember who put faith in me ; I didn ’ t even have faith in myself ,” she wrote . “ She let me know I could do anything if I believed . As a dyslexic child , I never had that special someone . Dyslexia is a reading and writing disorder that affects the way a child learns to read and write ; it can affect other subjects as well . I struggled in all subjects – writing and math also .”
Ti Anna ’ s struggles eventually culminated by failing the state-required math test in fifth grade , which she needed to pass to advance to middle school . Mrs . Martin was there to comfort her , but also pulled her into the hall and let her know she had confidence that the outcome of her re-take test would be different .
“ You are going to pass that test ,” Mrs . Martin told her , Ti Anna wrote . “ I believe in you . And I know you can do it .”
Ti Anna did go on to pass the test , and she graduated from Ryan High School on June 3 with the goal of becoming a teacher , largely because of Mrs . Martin ’ s impact on her education and life . In fact , Mrs . Martin made such an impact that Ti Anna began pursuing her desired career path before graduating . She served as an intern – or high school helper – for Mrs . Martin ’ s secondgrade class last year , learning the ropes of what her former teacher does on a daily basis .
The reunion served as a reminder of how teachers can leave a lasting mark on students , Mrs . Martin said .
“ When I found out she was going to be my high school helper , I immediately thought that I get to be with her again and have the opportunity to
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