Inspired Teacher Essay Contest Entries 2009
Congratulations to all student essayists!
More than 500 students submitted essays to recognize
teachers in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Contest cosponsors, the Washington Wizards and Center for Inspired Teaching, proudly recognize all student essayists and their teachers!
Search essays by student's first name:
Aaliyah
Ms. Cooper, The Fishing School
"My teacher inspires me and my whole class and gives me sweet dreams."
Ms. Cooper, The Fishing School
"My teacher inspires me and my whole class and gives me sweet dreams."
Abby
Ms. Kellogg, Sandy Spring Friends School
"She sets the bar high for anyone following in her footsteps, and she truly inspires me to be great."
Ms. Kellogg, Sandy Spring Friends School
"She sets the bar high for anyone following in her footsteps, and she truly inspires me to be great."
Acey
Ms. Powell, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"... Ms. Powell is the reason why I am so committed to my education. At the beginning of the year I was a total nut, but Ms. Powell fixed everything."
Ms. Powell, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"... Ms. Powell is the reason why I am so committed to my education. At the beginning of the year I was a total nut, but Ms. Powell fixed everything."
Adam
Ms. Rohlfs, Kilmer Middle School
"She explained to us how each of these symbols could be shown in real life. Square roots are like window panes. They get smaller and smaller every square, or window pane, you go. She also used to teach us how to be strong as a person."
Ms. Rohlfs, Kilmer Middle School
"She explained to us how each of these symbols could be shown in real life. Square roots are like window panes. They get smaller and smaller every square, or window pane, you go. She also used to teach us how to be strong as a person."
Addy
Ms. Douglass, Turner at Green Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me to do good in school. My teacher inspires me to learn."
Ms. Douglass, Turner at Green Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me to do good in school. My teacher inspires me to learn."
Adnan
Mr. Vaccoro, Francis C. Hammond Middle School
"When I was in elementary school, my language arts grades were pretty bad (C). Since that six grade class, I received better grades. He taught me about grammar skills, poetry things and comprehension."
Mr. Vaccoro, Francis C. Hammond Middle School
"When I was in elementary school, my language arts grades were pretty bad (C). Since that six grade class, I received better grades. He taught me about grammar skills, poetry things and comprehension."
Adrian
Ms. John, Rogers Heights Elementary School
"By watching her patience and love when working with her students she makes me want to get a job that makes me feel happy and fulfilled."
Ms. John, Rogers Heights Elementary School
"By watching her patience and love when working with her students she makes me want to get a job that makes me feel happy and fulfilled."
Adrienne
Ms. Hall, Ferebee-Hope Community School
"... She comes to school early and stays late to prepare our lessons everyday. She makes our lessons interesting. She's a teacher who really cares about her students and makes sure we learn. ... My teacher tells the truth and keeps it real."
Ms. Hall, Ferebee-Hope Community School
"... She comes to school early and stays late to prepare our lessons everyday. She makes our lessons interesting. She's a teacher who really cares about her students and makes sure we learn. ... My teacher tells the truth and keeps it real."
Akiya
Ms. Malata, Turner at Green Elementary School
"My teacher is nice. She helps me."
Ms. Malata, Turner at Green Elementary School
"My teacher is nice. She helps me."
Alexandra
Mr. Glaze, West Potomac High School
"Math is normally a class many students dread. This teacher, on the other hand, taught me to enjoy math and see the real world connections in each problem."
Mr. Glaze, West Potomac High School
"Math is normally a class many students dread. This teacher, on the other hand, taught me to enjoy math and see the real world connections in each problem."
Alexandra
Ms. Crabbe, Garrison Elementary School
"When Mrs. Crabbe is teaching us lesson she asks the students if anyone's having difficulties."
Ms. Crabbe, Garrison Elementary School
"When Mrs. Crabbe is teaching us lesson she asks the students if anyone's having difficulties."
Alexi
Mr. Anthony, Garrison Elementary School
"To me teachers are my role model, like Mr. Anthony."
Mr. Anthony, Garrison Elementary School
"To me teachers are my role model, like Mr. Anthony."
Alexis
Mrs. Wells, Turner at Green Elementary School
"She lets us clean up with her and she is a good teacher."
Mrs. Wells, Turner at Green Elementary School
"She lets us clean up with her and she is a good teacher."
Alexis
Ms. Allen, Watkins Elementary School
"Ms. Allen was a very helpful teacher. ... I miss Ms. Allen and all the fun things we did."
Ms. Allen, Watkins Elementary School
"Ms. Allen was a very helpful teacher. ... I miss Ms. Allen and all the fun things we did."
Alfred
Ms. Lawrence, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"Ms. Lawrence inspires me by being there for me when I get frustrated when there's something I can't understand and explaining it so I can understand."
Ms. Lawrence, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"Ms. Lawrence inspires me by being there for me when I get frustrated when there's something I can't understand and explaining it so I can understand."
Aliyah
Ms. Tomlinson, Orr Elementary School
"She is always there to give me help and advice."
Ms. Tomlinson, Orr Elementary School
"She is always there to give me help and advice."
Allen
Mrs. Grist, Belmont Station Elementary
"My favorite teacher in the world is Mrs. Grist because she is very nice. She helps us with morning math, reading, computer lab and makes school really really fun. Every day I think she looks pretty and she always teaches us new things."
Mrs. Grist, Belmont Station Elementary
"My favorite teacher in the world is Mrs. Grist because she is very nice. She helps us with morning math, reading, computer lab and makes school really really fun. Every day I think she looks pretty and she always teaches us new things."
Alonte
Mrs. Campange, Francis C. Hammond Middle School
"I am glad to be in my teacher class because I have really improved my work studies. She stays on top of me because she wants the best for me and my career."
Mrs. Campange, Francis C. Hammond Middle School
"I am glad to be in my teacher class because I have really improved my work studies. She stays on top of me because she wants the best for me and my career."
Alonzo
Mrs. Brummell, Kimball Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me to read a lot and stay off the street, and out of trouble. ... She encourages me to use my education to be someone of great importance."
Mrs. Brummell, Kimball Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me to read a lot and stay off the street, and out of trouble. ... She encourages me to use my education to be someone of great importance."
Amari
Ms. Crabbe, Garrison Elementary School
"She encourages us to choose our friends wisely and to keep them close."
Ms. Crabbe, Garrison Elementary School
"She encourages us to choose our friends wisely and to keep them close."
Amari
Ms. Powell, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"She has taught me to think and to focus on my work. Ms. Powell is a good teacher and a good inspirer .She cares for people and their feelings."
Ms. Powell, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"She has taught me to think and to focus on my work. Ms. Powell is a good teacher and a good inspirer .She cares for people and their feelings."
Amari
Ms. Smith, Turner at Green Elementary School
"She wants me to live my dream and be a happy student, to be responsible for my own actions, and truthful to others."
Ms. Smith, Turner at Green Elementary School
"She wants me to live my dream and be a happy student, to be responsible for my own actions, and truthful to others."
Amonie
Ms. Salerno, Friendship Southeast Academy
"She has made me smarter than I thought I could ever be."
Ms. Salerno, Friendship Southeast Academy
"She has made me smarter than I thought I could ever be."
Amy'a
Ms. Crabbe, Garrison Elementary School
"My teacher helps me with things I need help with and when I do it right she says, 'See. I knew you could do it!'"
Ms. Crabbe, Garrison Elementary School
"My teacher helps me with things I need help with and when I do it right she says, 'See. I knew you could do it!'"
Andre
Mr. Anthony, Garrison Elementary School
"My teacher builds my character. ... He commits to my education."
Mr. Anthony, Garrison Elementary School
"My teacher builds my character. ... He commits to my education."
Andre
Mr. Smith, Kelly Miller Middle School
"He works with me one on one to be sure I understand what I have to do. When we work on problems, he takes me through each one and if there is something that we can not figure out, he takes the time to go back over everything..."
Mr. Smith, Kelly Miller Middle School
"He works with me one on one to be sure I understand what I have to do. When we work on problems, he takes me through each one and if there is something that we can not figure out, he takes the time to go back over everything..."
Andrew
Ms. Rohlfs, Kilmer Middle School
"Mrs. Rohlfs was a great teacher who not only fought for her kids’ education, but fought her own battle with ovarian cancer. She was short, funny, entertaining, and believed in anything."
Ms. Rohlfs, Kilmer Middle School
"Mrs. Rohlfs was a great teacher who not only fought for her kids’ education, but fought her own battle with ovarian cancer. She was short, funny, entertaining, and believed in anything."
Anesa
Ms. Salerno, Ms. Koches, Ms. Lamotte, Friendship Southeast Academy
"I see how I have grown and the teachers are the ones who made a difference. ... I never seen someone care that much about a student so if they care that much they are my family."
Ms. Salerno, Ms. Koches, Ms. Lamotte, Friendship Southeast Academy
"I see how I have grown and the teachers are the ones who made a difference. ... I never seen someone care that much about a student so if they care that much they are my family."
Angel
Mr. Wiggins, Cleveland Elementary School
"He helps me with my homework. He is nice."
Mr. Wiggins, Cleveland Elementary School
"He helps me with my homework. He is nice."
Angel
Ms. Hallums, Ferebee-Hope Community School
"... She is teaching a lesson and I just sit there like I don't understand and she would say, 'You are going to get it even if everyone else knows it now and you don't, we are going to wait for you to get it.'"
Ms. Hallums, Ferebee-Hope Community School
"... She is teaching a lesson and I just sit there like I don't understand and she would say, 'You are going to get it even if everyone else knows it now and you don't, we are going to wait for you to get it.'"
Angela
Ms. Son, Stuart Hobson Middle School
"I think she is the best teacher in the world."
"I think she is the best teacher in the world."
Aniya
Mr. Harris, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"Mr. Harris, he is funny."
Mr. Harris, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"Mr. Harris, he is funny."
Ankit
Ms. Appling, Kilmer Middle School
"They have helped me fix my bad habits, which were mostly mistakes that I constantly made on my written work. They have worked with me every step of the way, making me leave no stone unturned. They will help me emerge from seventh grade very knowledgeable."
Ms. Appling, Kilmer Middle School
"They have helped me fix my bad habits, which were mostly mistakes that I constantly made on my written work. They have worked with me every step of the way, making me leave no stone unturned. They will help me emerge from seventh grade very knowledgeable."
Anna
Ms. Tingling-Clemmons, Stuart Hobson Middle School
"Because of her, I am inspired to help others the way she helps each one of her students."
Ms. Tingling-Clemmons, Stuart Hobson Middle School
"Because of her, I am inspired to help others the way she helps each one of her students."
Anthony
Mr. Kaisharis, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"My class and I have a lot of group discussions and he gives us all a chance to express ourselves in a good manner."
Mr. Kaisharis, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"My class and I have a lot of group discussions and he gives us all a chance to express ourselves in a good manner."
Anthony
Ms. Colbourne, Turner at Green Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me by helping me with my skills and giving me time to learn."
Ms. Colbourne, Turner at Green Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me by helping me with my skills and giving me time to learn."
Anthony
Ms. Spann, New Community
"She does work with me. ... She gives me time to gain answers so she is my favorite teacher."
Ms. Spann, New Community
"She does work with me. ... She gives me time to gain answers so she is my favorite teacher."
Antwane
Ms. Ridge, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"My teacher Ms. Ridge inspires me to find connections between my learning and my life by teaching me things I need to know to pass 4th grade."
Ms. Ridge, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"My teacher Ms. Ridge inspires me to find connections between my learning and my life by teaching me things I need to know to pass 4th grade."
Antwon
Ms Worsley, Paul Public Charter School
"My teacher even uses activities to help me become better at what I am weak at and it actually helps me a lot."
Ms Worsley, Paul Public Charter School
"My teacher even uses activities to help me become better at what I am weak at and it actually helps me a lot."
Anua
Ms. Ridge, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"She inspires me to do good in class. She gives us advice if we need it."
Ms. Ridge, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"She inspires me to do good in class. She gives us advice if we need it."
Arazhane
Ms. Colbourne, Turner at Green Elementary School
"Ms. Colbourne inspires me by helping me commit to my education, by making it fun to learn."
Ms. Colbourne, Turner at Green Elementary School
"Ms. Colbourne inspires me by helping me commit to my education, by making it fun to learn."
Aricka
Ms. Lawrence, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"When I am having problems with something and don't want to say it in front of the class, she talks to me one on one."
Ms. Lawrence, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"When I am having problems with something and don't want to say it in front of the class, she talks to me one on one."
Armani
Ms. Schuler, Garrison Elementary School
"Having a teacher that cares so much about me is the best thing a smart young child could have."
Ms. Schuler, Garrison Elementary School
"Having a teacher that cares so much about me is the best thing a smart young child could have."
Arnnie
Mrs. Herndon, Garrison Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me by helping me when I need help."
Mrs. Herndon, Garrison Elementary School
"My teacher inspires me by helping me when I need help."
Ashley
Mr. Anthony, Garrison Elementary School
"Mr. Anthony inspires me with his personality and the way he dresses and how he makes me laugh. He makes fair judgment and he shows us how to be respectful to everyone."
Mr. Anthony, Garrison Elementary School
"Mr. Anthony inspires me with his personality and the way he dresses and how he makes me laugh. He makes fair judgment and he shows us how to be respectful to everyone."
Ashton
Mr. Askeew, KIPP DC-WILL Academy
"What makes him inspiring to me is that he is bold towards any challenge, and he inspires me to be strong even through a lot of things that can affect you."
Mr. Askeew, KIPP DC-WILL Academy
"What makes him inspiring to me is that he is bold towards any challenge, and he inspires me to be strong even through a lot of things that can affect you."
Asia
Ms. Brown, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"Mrs. Brown is a good teacher who inspires me to be the best person I can be by encouraging me to speak up and be heard."
Ms. Brown, Howard Road Academy Public Charter School
"Mrs. Brown is a good teacher who inspires me to be the best person I can be by encouraging me to speak up and be heard."
Audra
Ms. Russell, Wolftrap Elementary School
"My teacher last year, Mrs. Russell was awesome. She had lots of sayings...my favorite saying was 'an intelligent person doesn't have to know the answers, an intelligent person has to know the resources to find the answers."
Ms. Russell, Wolftrap Elementary School
"My teacher last year, Mrs. Russell was awesome. She had lots of sayings...my favorite saying was 'an intelligent person doesn't have to know the answers, an intelligent person has to know the resources to find the answers."
Augustus
Mrs. Valentine, Shepherd Elementary School
"She is a great teacher. She is a very disciplined teacher. Which is good. I talk a lot. But Mrs. Valentine changed that about me."
Mrs. Valentine, Shepherd Elementary School
"She is a great teacher. She is a very disciplined teacher. Which is good. I talk a lot. But Mrs. Valentine changed that about me."
Avery
Ms. Colburne, Turner at Green Elementary School
"Ms. Colbourne inspires me by showing me great emotion."
Ms. Colburne, Turner at Green Elementary School
"Ms. Colbourne inspires me by showing me great emotion."
Ayanna
Mrs. Thompson, Watkins Elementary School
"To be able to prove a child wrong when they say, 'you don't understand my situation and what I'm going through,' then be able to name the situation and a positive solution is just astonishing and marvelous."
Mrs. Thompson, Watkins Elementary School
"To be able to prove a child wrong when they say, 'you don't understand my situation and what I'm going through,' then be able to name the situation and a positive solution is just astonishing and marvelous."
Ayanna
Ms. Pabilona, Center City Public Charter School - Shaw
"Ms. Pabilona is an educated teacher that loves kids. She also listens to us when we have a statement."
Ms. Pabilona, Center City Public Charter School - Shaw
"Ms. Pabilona is an educated teacher that loves kids. She also listens to us when we have a statement."
Ayanna
Ms. Shiferaw, Seed Public Charter School
"Ms. Shiferaw has her own words that she says, 'You are the weakest link.' That's what she says, she is so fun."
Ms. Shiferaw, Seed Public Charter School
"Ms. Shiferaw has her own words that she says, 'You are the weakest link.' That's what she says, she is so fun."
Copyright 2009 Center for Inspired Teaching and the Washington Wizards
