And the winner is … Heather Gohn!
Carrying flowers to her classroom , Superintendent Chris Evans surprised Gohn on Wednesday with news that she is Natomas Unified’s new “Teacher of the Year.”
Gohn, a 3rd grade teacher at Bannon Creek School, will represent NUSD in regional competition sponsored by the Sacramento County Office of Education.
Principal Amreek Singh’s comments in nominating Gohn for the award make it clear that she is exemplary in many ways, for example, he wrote:
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She reminds me of the model teacher every student deserves.
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Her students are held accountable for their behavior and their performance on classwork, and that leads to a strong and productive class.
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She maintains high standards for all students and is continuously assessing students for mastery of Common Core standards.
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Leveled reading, targeted small group work, and modified assignments when necessary are continuously used in her room to make sure each student is performing to the highest level of their success.
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Her behavior management style also plays a key role in her students being able to utilize every instructional minute that is offered to them.
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(Her) students see that special-needs students can succeed in her class and there is always high rigor and expectations.
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She will take the initiative in everything from trying new strategies to taking challenging students into her class.
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She will be the first teacher to offer her class for mainstreaming special-needs students and will ensure success for every student in her class.
Singh also praised Gohn as an innovator in classroom technology and student intervention, a collaborator and team player with peers, a source of support for beginning teachers, and a leader in training staff to use the new Infinite Campus student information system.
Singh notes that Gohn’s classroom skills are consistent with NUSD’s Board-approved Vision that, “All NUSD students graduate as college and career ready, productive, responsible, and engaged global citizens.”
“She is creating lifelong scholars who will have the necessary tools to achieve in college and in their future career,” Singh said.
Gohn succeeds Heron School first-grade teacher Lisa MacMillan as NUSD’s Teacher of the Year.
