Watching the growth of her students from the beginning of the school year to the end is very rewarding for Alison Becker. Becker, is a first grade teacher at Salem Church Elementary School and has been an educator for five years.
Allison Becker
Becker taught pre-K in Georgia for her first two years as a teacher, then second and third when she moved to the area.For the upcoming school year, she will be teaching first grade. She said working in different grade levels helped her to grow and stay current in education, and she mentioned her fondness for second graders.
“Second grade is such a fun age [because]the students are more independent, and [they]want to work hard and please their teacher,” Becker said. “They need expectations and boundaries but are quick to learn and adjust.\I love building relationships with my students and providing them with consistency and support to ensure their continued growth.”
Becker’s mother was a high school teacher and administrator, so education has always been a significant part of her life. She was intrigued by her mother’s determination and love for education, and she said her mother instilled that passion in her.
Becker is entering her third year at Salem Church with the Teacher of the Year award already won.
“I feel very honored to be Teacher of the Year for Salem [Church] Elementary,” Becker said. “There are so many teachers who are deserving of this title at my school, and I feel very grateful.”
Becker has kept herself busy during the summer by teaching “post-second grade” for the school’s summer “recovery of learning” program, which she said prepared her for how virtual classes would look in the fall.
“Teachers across the county are putting in tremendous effort this summer to provide students with the best possible virtual learning experience by completing training and webinars and preparing Canvas courses,” Becker said.\“I have worked hard to continue to connect with my students to support their academics as well as their social and emotional well-being.”
Becker’s favorite part of teaching is building relationships with the students and incorporating “social-emotional learning” within the classroom. Once she builds relationships and trust with her students, she said, she works to be consistent with her expectations so she can create engaging and interactive lessons to encourage student engagement and growth.
Becker believes she has made an impact during her five years as a teacher, and she hopes her students and their families feel the same way.
“I want to make a difference for as many students as I can. When I reflect on my K-12 educational experience, I have many wonderful memories and am grateful to have had many phenomenal teachers whom I will never forget,” Becker said. “I hope that I have made a positive impact and will be the teacher my students will always remember.\”
