Erin Patterson is Watauga

County schools'

Teacher of the Year

By Caroline Monday
cmonday@mountaintimes.com
Third-grade teacher Erin Patterson of Parkway Elementary School was named Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year for the 2007-08 school year.

On the morning of Friday, May 9, a group of school system administrators, board members and Patterson's family surprised her at her classroom and presented her with the award.

Patterson is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where she earned her bachelor's in elementary education and a master's in curriculum and Instruction. She has taught in Watauga County since her graduation from ASU in 2001.

Patterson has also earned National Board Certification, which is the highest professional credential available for teachers.

Schools superintendent Dr. Bobbie Short said the selection process for teacher of the year includes the submission of a written philosophy, an intensive interview and classroom observations.

The selection committee includes members of the school board, central office staff, teachers and principals.

School board member Steve Combs said Patterson gets the best out of her students by showing them love, kindness and respect, and in doing so has also earned the respect of her colleagues.

"The people are why we’re the kind of school system we are," he said.

Teaching is a tradition in Patterson's family, her mother Gail Ford said.

Ford is a curriculum specialist and head of AIG programs for the school system, who began her career as a teacher.

She said the family has had more than 30 teachers in its history, with many of those currently working in Watauga County.

"We always encouraged Erin, telling her she can be anything she wants to be," Ford said. "She wants to instill that in other children."

Patterson's teaching philosophy is to never stop learning. "You have to continue learning and change with how your students change," she said.

"I absolutely love what I do," she said.

The other eight schoolwide teachers of the year include Louise Cooper of Green Valley, Kris Hagaman of Valle Crucis, Christy Laws of Cove Creek, Sarah Miller of Watauga High School, Michele Nichols of Mabel, Linda Queen of Hardin Park, Jessica Smith of Bethel and Lara Whiteside of Blowing Rock.

Each school’s teacher of the year receives $500 from Boone Regional Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates and $350 from Watauga County schools. Patterson will receive an additional $500 from Boone Regional Ear, Nose and Throat Associates and an additional $350 from the Watauga County schools.

Patterson will go on to compete for regional teacher of the year for the northwest region of the state. The N.C. Teacher of the Year will be selected from the six regional winners.