By Matthew Stewart
of The Daily Times Staff –

The field of education continues to evolve as teachers become further aware of the ever-expanding world of resources available to them.

Great teachers are able to discern their students’ needs and tailor these new resources to the needs of a specific class. Great educators also possess a certain flexibility whereby they are constantly refining their lessons.

Susan Wagner, a Porter Elementary School fourth grade teacher, is one such teacher. She was one of five Tennessee teachers awarded the 2008 Award of Recognition for Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities.

Wagner is humble about the award. “There are lots of other teachers who do just as many cool things (for their students), but don’t get recognized. I just applied for the award,” she said.

“(Blount County) has a great school system with great kids. A lot of good things are going on here,” said Wagner. “There are a lot of unsung heroes (in education) — a lot of teachers are quiet.”

Second career

Wagner is a second-career teacher, she said. “I’ve worked in other jobs before and this is one job where we give a lot (of ourselves). (As teachers,) we get so attached to (students) that we’re one little family. When (students) are having an exciting day or a sad day we all feel it.”

She has taught third grade, fourth grade and a multi-age fourth grade and fifth class in her eight years of teaching. Wagner likes teaching fourth grade the best, she said. “It’s a hard year for reading and introduces more difficult subjects for science and history. They are moving from a primary education to an upper elementary education.”

Every school year is a new experience with its own unique set of challenges. “Every year I do something different,” said Wagner. “I gauge (my students’) abilities and interests. I gear my instruction toward their needs.”

Wagner likes researching and writing her own lessons, she said. “It’s one of the great things about teaching,” said Wagner.

“What’s really neat is to see a student you had several years ago, and have them tell you they remember a lesson. It’s nice to know it sticks with them,” she said.

Past students remember

Fifth-grader Derek Roulette remembers his time in Wagner’s class last year. “I like how she taught social studies. She made it fun and easy,” he said. Roulette’s favorite lesson was one where his classmates had to act like British and American spies during the American Revolution. Roulette seemingly remembers every detail of how he and his peers scoured the entire school for enemy troops. Even more impressive was how his narrative of the lesson reflected a deep understanding of not only the tactics but the history of the American Revolution.

“She was just a great teacher and I was glad to have her,” said Roulette.

Students have enjoyed many lessons this year, such as reenacting the battle of Lexington and Concord, creating models of famous Tennesseans using potato chip cans and designing cell models for a “Top Cell Model Competition.”

Wagner will receive a fellowship of $2,000 to use for professional development, and another $1,500 for humanities textbooks at the school. She will use the $2,000 for trips to Boston and New York to learn more about these significant colonial period cities. Wagner’s trip will include visits to museums and historic sites as well as a Mt. Vernon workshop on archaeology.

“I’m glad she’s getting awarded for things she’s doing everyday,” said principal Deborah Craig. “She’s very creative and always provides an enriched curriculum. This award will just add to the enrichment and give her financial backing for her projects.”