Cheryl Conley, fourth grade teacher at Osceola Magnet School, is the 2011 Teacher of the Year for the School District of Indian River County.
Mrs. Conley has been teaching at Osceola Magnet School for the past three years. She began her career as a middle school teacher in Houston, Texas, where she taught for seven years before moving with her family to Florida. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Academic Studies, Life/Earth Science Specialization from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. She is Science Coordinator at Osceola Magnet School, the fourth and fifth grade Science Advisor, and a member of the School Advisory Council. Her principal, Susan Roberts, describes her as “a dynamic educator, a warm and caring advocate for children, a true professional, and an outstanding representative of the teachers of Osceola Magnet School and Indian River County.”
A visit to Mrs. Conley’s classroom reveals her intense interest in science and technology, and her creativity and excitement in sharing that with her students. From rock and bone collections to breeding, hatching, and raising angelfish, her classroom is full of opportunities for her students to see and appreciate the natural world. “I feel my role is to act as a guide or a facilitator to the learning process.
I want to instill in my students the ability and the freedom to question, to ponder, and to reflect. I aim to empower my students to become active participants in their learning,” Mrs. Conley explains when asked about her role as a teacher. Mrs. Conley will represent the School District of Indian River County in the Florida Department of Education – Macy’s Teacher of the Year competition later this year.
SOURCE: VBHS
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