When Natomas Unified’s new “Teacher of the Year” Lisa MacMillan learned of the honor today through a surprise visit from Supt. Chris Evans, about a dozen of her Heron School 1st graders jumped from their seats and rushed to their teacher for a group hug.
That tells you all you need to know, perhaps, about how well Mrs. MacMillan connects with kids.
Principal Amy Whitten, in nomination papers, characterized Mrs. MacMillan as a collaborative, well-respected, team player whose classroom is “always a place where students are highly engaged in their learning and eager to explain what they’re doing and what they’ve learned.”
“Lisa MacMillan is unwavering in her belief that all students can learn, and she is committed to providing each child with the support he or she needs to be successful,” Whitten added. “Mrs. MacMillan has a true passion for the art of teaching, and she is continuously seeking opportunities for professional growth and reflecting on her practice.”
Mrs. MacMillan has taught more than 2,300 Natomas students in a career spanning more than 15 years, initially as a middle and high school English teacher, then the past five years as a 1st grade instructor at Heron.
“I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to help kids access the gift of reading, whether it’s at the beginning stages or helping them decipher Shakespeare,” Mrs. MacMillan wrote when asked about her career.
Mrs. MacMillan said she is committed to helping every child learn and grow, regardless of their ability, willingness or developmental stage.
“Students are treated with respect and kindness and are expected to do the same to others,” she wrote. “They are challenged but not pressured. They feel success when working hard to do their best. We celebrate hard work and trying our best.”
At Heron, Mrs. MacMillan offers support to colleagues in effectively implementing technology in their classrooms. She also has been involved in a teacher mentoring program, and she serves as a master teacher for student teachers from California State University, Sacramento.
Committed to giving back to her community, Mrs. MacMillan volunteered one summer at a "4th R" youth learning program, teaching reading lessons. Another summer, she provided home-visit tutoring to a child who needed help.
“We are very fortunate to have a teacher at Heron who has such an unwavering commitment to her students, as well as the willingness to collaborate with the staff and support other teachers in the profession,” Principal Whitten wrote.
As Natomas Unified’s “2016 Teacher of the Year,” Mrs. MacMillan will represent the district in a regional competition sponsored by the Sacramento County Office of Education.
