“I have never considered teaching as my job, but a calling that has been placed in my heart since I was little,” Stilwell said. “I walk through the doors each day ready to give my all, with the hope that, in some small way I am making a difference in the lives of these small children. I know that sounds cliché but those words are truly at the core of why I spend so much time and energy planning and preparing for the day.”
Stilwell said understands what it takes to prepare children to be life-long learners.
“At the beginning of this school year I knew that a student, who could be challenging, would be in my class,” she added. “So, before school started, I met with a team of teachers to so that I could be fully prepared for this child’s first day of school. Together we developed a plan to boost this child’s self-esteem and to encourage self-motivation. I know that a teacher is sometimes a caretaker and may be the only person who gives words of encouragement to a child.
I will never say that I don’t go home completely exhausted mentally or physically, but the feeling of appreciation that my students and parents give me is so rewarding.”
Picture Information
Wright Elementary Campus Teacher of the Year and WISD Elementary Teacher of the Year Jenny Stilwell (left) and Weatherford ISD Education Foundation Past-President Donna Dickinson (photo by DERIK MOORE).