Denton ISD Our Impact In Your Community Magazine Summer 2016 | Page 40

Elementary Teacher

of the

Year

Andi Hawkins impacts academics through specials

I

f specials teachers had a pied
piper, her name would be Andi
Hawkins, Denton ISD’s Elementary
Teacher of the Year. Her work
‘championing’ students and
creating opportunities for them to
succeed at W.S. Ryan Elementary
earned her the district’s top
teaching award this year.
What exactly is a specials
teacher?
Technically, they’re the ones
who teach music, physical
education and art – the classes
that eventually become
electives in secondary school.
But to hear Ms. Hawkins
description of what these
teachers do and achieve, may
be more accurate.
“If classroom teachers are
the bones and marrow of
education, we (specials
teachers) are the heartbeat.
Those of us who interact with
every teacher and every
student every single day can
have a great impact,” said the
W.S. Ryan P.E. teacher.

Ms. Hawkins volunteers for extra
before – and after-school duty,
freeing up core teachers to
tutor struggling students during
that time. She organizes the

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campus’ fun run to generate
funds for the school to purchase
additional instructional items.

Her reputation on campus is
one of serving others and often
setting the example for others
to follow.

Last year after noticing that her
students loved to dance during
class, Ms. Hawkins started an
after school Zumba Club, and
was thrilled to have 20 students.
However, she noticed that
many more students wanted
to participate, but were limited
because they rode the bus and
couldn’t get home after school
if they stayed to dance.

She rallied the other specials
teachers and, with administrator
approval, she worked out “Club
Friday.” This allowed students to
have open access to something
extra during the school day –
art, dance, extreme P.E. or choir
without needing a ride home.
And the response has been
overwhelming.

“The Dance Team has almost
become student led,” she said.
“At first I was mixing the music,
creating the steps – doing
everything. Now, the students
choose their own songs and I find

As a student, Ms. Hawkins was an aspiring gymnast who conquered
her fears, and as a teacher she loves making that connection with
students through taking risks and trying new things.

them working on choreography
at home, recess and after
school. Watching my students
mature through this club has
been a teacher’s dream.”
Mrs. Hawkins was inspired to
become a teacher by her
middle school creative writing
teacher, Shelley Pulliam. She
shared that it was not the
content that impacted her, but
the expectations and feeling
that Mrs. Pulliam conveyed that
made a difference.

“She invested in me,” said Mrs.
Hawkins. “She looked at me like
I was valuable and capable.
I think of her every time to do
the same for my students. It’s
been 25 years and she’s still
influencing me.”

Ms. Hawkins checks on two students who
accidentally bumped heads during P.E. Class.
Photos by Mario Zavala