IN THE CLASSROOM
Embracing Fun: Kristin Smythe, TA ' s 2020 Teacher of the Year
IN THE CLASSROOM
Some excellent teachers bring excitement and joy to the classroom, while others support their students in a caring and nurturing manner. Thornton Academy’ s 2020 Teacher of the Year, Kristin Smythe, somehow does it all.
As Teacher of the Year, Smythe has been recognized by Thornton Academy’ s administration and fellow teachers for excellence in the classroom. Before being announced as Teacher of the Year in 2020, she was nominated by her peers in 2018 and 2019.
“ Kristin is one of the warmest, most thoughtful, and most genuine teachers with whom I ' ve ever come in contact. I believe she is unmatched in terms of her determination to connect with and motivate her unique student population. She approaches her students ' learning and life challenges with calm respect. She is creative in finding interesting and meaningful ways to present her program curriculum, orchestrating myriad elements such as varied teaching strategies, support staff, equipment, materials, and technology. She strives always to enable her students, drawing on their unique abilities. Kristin sees their abilities rather focusing exclusively on their ' needs ' so as to best foster positive interactions with everyone they encounter [ in ] daily life. In short, Kristin is a star,” said Susan Tarver, Thornton Academy’ s Director of Internal Communications, and one of the four TA staff members who nominated Smythe for Teacher of the Year.
Smythe has been a teacher in Thornton Academy’ s Functional Life Skills( FLS) program since 2014. The FLS program educates students with developmental disabilities. While some students in the FLS program enroll in mainstream classes with their peers, others remain in a separate
12 Story by Katy Nicketakis · Photos Courtesy of Thornton Academy