Fifth-Year Educator Receives Teacher of the Year Honor

Suzanne Whitford, a fifth grade teacher at , is an advocate for technology in the classroom. Whitford was named Teacher of the Year at her school. 

“I’m proud to be named as Teacher of the Year for our school,” Whitford said. “But I have some big shoes to fill. There are so many outstanding teammates here who helped me develop as a teacher,” she added. “My mother is a great teacher and she was instrumental in my wanting to be a teacher.”

Whitford, who has been teaching for only five years, came to Wild Horse Elementary as a graduate of Illinois State University. She's since earned a master’s degree in educational technology from Webster University.

Whitford feels that remaining up-to-date with technology and integrating it into the classroom is a way to engage kids since they are frequently using technology. 

“I work on how to approach technology and integrate it into our lessons. I look at what students need in order to learn. But if technology isn’t what the students need in a particular subject area, then I don’t use it,” Whitford said.

One of Whitford's favorite subjects is science because of its hands-on nature. She said she thinks students who are involved in science labs or hands-on experiments are more likely to use logic and critical thinking skills. She has taken science trips with students to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Tetons and the Florida Keys. 

“These trips are great learning experiences. In the Smoky Mountains there were lessons on ecosystems, and in the Florida Keys we studied marine biology. Team building is another important aspect of the trips. Students come together in a shared unique experience,” Whitford said.

“I tell my students to observe the world around them and ask how these observations relate to what we are learning,” she said. 

"Suzanne is a very dedicated and hard-working professional," principal Karen Kieffer said. "She is constantly employing new and innovative instructional strategies to meet the needs of her learners. She is a leader within our building as well as in the Rockwood School District. It is a joy to work with Suzanne." 

Whitford also serves as the coach for Girls on the Run, a program to empower girls to make healthy life choices through self-respect and running. 

Whitford expressed her appreciation for the honor given by her peers. “I’ve grown and changed a lot from my first year as a teacher to this year, and there’s still room to grow. So many people helped me: teachers, other staff and Rockwood administration. Really, all teachers are phenomenal in what they do,” Whitford said.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Whitford attended Illinois State University. A previous version of this article incorrectly identified which school she attended. This article was last updated at 5:39 p.m. on April 13.