A Treasure in the Classroom: Celebrating Our Teacher of the Year

Set sail with us on this special episode of the PME Pirate Podcast as we celebrate our Teacher of the Year - Mrs. Lindsey Herrick! Our hosts chat with this amazing educator about favorite classroom moments, funny stories, and what makes Poole’s Mill such a special place to learn.

We’ll also share updates about our upcoming Online Learning Day on October 17, Fall Conferences happening this month, and our Chills and Frills Drive collecting coats and fancy dresses through October 17. Don’t miss this heartwarming and fun-filled episode becuase it’s packed with pirate pride!

Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:11

Ahoy, maidies! Welcome back to the Pools Mill Podcast, where we sail the seas of learning and fun. I'm Art Noodle. This is Tracy Newland.

SPEAKER_05 0:22

I am Brittany Meisner, first grade, ready to uncover the treasures of Pools Mill Elementary.

SPEAKER_04 0:28

And I'm Jessica Rossetti, bringing you all the news, laughs, and maybe even a few surprises.

SPEAKER_06 0:33

Today we have a super special guest, our very own teacher of the year. Woo!

SPEAKER_05 0:40

Woo! That's right, Miss Lindsay Herrick. Congratulations. We are so excited to have you here. Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here.

SPEAKER_04 0:50

All right, let's dive right in. We've got a few fun questions lined up. Starting easy.

SPEAKER_06 0:55

If you could have any superpower to help you in the classroom, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01 1:01

Ooh, I feel like teachers always have that um, I guess, pretend superpower of eyes in the back of our head, and I really wish that was true. I wish I could always see what was happening behind me.

SPEAKER_05 1:13

We can, children. We can. All right. What's your favorite thing about teaching at Pools Mill?

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Um, the community, just the people, the students, the families. Um, I feel like I get to know. Now I get to actually teach siblings of people that I taught, and I I just think it's so fun to get that opportunity. And also students who come back and say hello and and things like that, or the sweet emails or messages that I get from parents or family members, um, the community itself is that's my why. I love it. I love that.

SPEAKER_04 1:48

Thanks for sharing. All right, so if your class were a pirate ship, what would be the ship's name?

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Ooh, so my class knows I love Dr. Pepper. And I have to say, our fundraiser we just did, we had um our name, which was duh Dr. Pepper's. So it would have to be something with Dr. Pepper. That's a good question. Probably like I'd have to think on that, but definitely something with that, because my students insist on it. I love that. That's funny.

SPEAKER_06 2:16

All right, Mrs. Herrick. What is one thing that always makes you laugh during the school day?

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Ooh, um, I think the connections that we make sometimes with each other. Um, it can be something simple like when we're reading a book and they make a connection, students make a connection to a character in the book, but sometimes it's just silly things. Um, and I love just seeing what students come up with or creative ideas they come up with and they share those. And when it's so good they can't not share it, so they're just dying to share something. Um that makes me laugh. It makes me giggle to see that we're so passionate about it and and we just we can't not share it. And they they come up with some funny, funny little sayings and things. So anytime they can use their creativity, that makes me laugh because they come up with some clever little ideas.

SPEAKER_05 3:06

Yes, they are.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

Awesome.

SPEAKER_05 3:07

Do you have a favorite book or story that you um share maybe each year or something that you always go back to?

SPEAKER_01 3:14

Um so at the beginning of the year, I always do um our class is a family and a letter from your teacher on the first day of school. So those two. And then the last day of school, I always do a letter from your teacher on the last day of school. But the special thing about the letter from your teacher on the last day of school is there's a page in the back where you can write a letter to your students. And so I always write that that page, and I have a book for every year that I've taught. Um, and so I read that letter to them, and that's just a personal thing that I like to do with them. And um then I, you know, send them on the bus, and it's it's a sad moment, but it's I have that to kind of remember them and cherish that that group. So that book is special because it's special for our class each year.

SPEAKER_04 3:57

That's so great. One of the many reasons why you are the teacher of the year. Okay, one last question for you. If you could swap jobs with anyone at the school for a day, who would it be and why? Hmm.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

Pick me, pick me. Art is, yeah, that's a fun one. Um maybe I know that Miss Hoffman does so much in the front, but I do think it's kind of fun sometimes to get to see everybody checking in and checking out and talking to the teachers when they send stuff up or they have to check in with her, and she's just always got a smile on her face up there. And so maybe Miss Hoffman. Okay.

SPEAKER_06 4:36

Well, thank you so much. We've enjoyed learning about you today.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Thank you guys for having me.

SPEAKER_05 4:41

Absolutely. Well, let's hear from a few of our students. Miss Letterbach asked a few of our kiddos why Miss Herrick is the best teacher. Let's have a quick listen.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

I think Miss Herrick's the best because she's always someone that you can count on to have a smile on her face and to put one on yours too. She is super smart and kind to others, and she can help you with anything that you need help with.

SPEAKER_07 5:03

I think Miss Herrick is the best because um she's very kind and nice, and she um always brings me a smile to my face.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

I think Miss Herrick is the best teacher because she helps other people learn in their own way. So if you like sports, she helps you like put math somehow into sports as and there are three footballs on the field. How many more do they need to get five? And I think that's really sweet. She always is kind and she's patient with each with all her students. So if you really if you need some other way, if you don't get what she's saying, she always makes sure you you're not left behind and you're not confused.

SPEAKER_03 5:54

Like if you need help on like on a math problem, she says you like you can come to her and like she can fix like any problems and then like she can give you like more strategies and then like when she gives you like math problems, but then you need help, you can you can always come to her and then you can and then she can always you can always count on her to solve many problems and give you more strategies.

SPEAKER_08 6:15

Is Herrick's the best because she is patient with everyone? She also always does bring a smile to everybody's face.

SPEAKER_01 6:25

Oh, that was so sweet. I love all my students and I love hearing their kind words and just their love because I love each and every one of them so much.

SPEAKER_06 6:34

Alright, before we move to our quick fire round, friends, we have a few important updates for all of our listeners.

SPEAKER_05 6:41

First, don't forget that October 17th is an online learning day for our students. Teachers and families, make sure your Chromebooks and materials are ready for a full day of learning from home.

SPEAKER_04 6:52

And this month we're having fall conferences. It's a great chance to meet your teacher and celebrate all the amazing things happening here at Pulls Mill.

SPEAKER_05 6:59

Also remember no school October 20th for students. That is a student holiday at home. Enjoy your time off.

SPEAKER_06 7:07

Plus, our Chills and Frills charity drive is still going strong. We're collecting coats and fancy dresses for kids in need until October 17th. If you'd like to help, bring your items to the front office or your student's classroom. Now we're gonna have our quick fire round. My favorite. All right, Mrs. Herrick, we're doing a lightning round. Quick answers only. Favorite snack? Ooh, popcorn.

unknown 7:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 7:33

Morning or afternoon person.

SPEAKER_01 7:35

Afternoon. Coffee tea or hot chocolate. Coffee.

SPEAKER_06 7:38

Favorite classroom supply.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Colored pens.

SPEAKER_05 7:41

Cats, dogs, or unicorns. Dogs all the way. And that wraps up this special Teacher of the Year edition of the Pools Mill Podcast.

SPEAKER_04 7:52

Huge thanks to Miss Herrick for joining us. You inspire all of us every day.

SPEAKER_06 7:56

And thanks to our students for their awesome answers. P I R A T E S, Pools Mill Pirates are the best.