TEACHERS
OF THE
YEAR ROBERT HIRSCH
Why do you think
teachers are important?
SECOND GRADE
TEACHER AT BELLS MILL
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN POTOMAC, MD
Teachers are incredibly
important in developing
children. Not only are
teachers teaching
students how to be critical
and creative thinkers,
but they’re also teaching
the students vital socio-
emotional skills. If students
can think critically and
creatively, get along with
their peers, learn to be
adaptable and resilient
and have a growth
mindset to learn other
“soft skills,” students will
be prepared for whatever
pathway in life they
choose. Do you have any tried
and trusted ideas or
activities for motivating
students? It’s essential for teachers
to have positive and
trusting relationships with
their students. Once I’ve
established a positive
and trusting relationship,
and they’ve bought into
me, they can buy into the
content I’m going to teach
them. What is the single best
piece of advice you can
give parents of second-
graders? Children would much
rather have your presence
than your presents.

What’s your funniest
teaching moment?
The funniest moment in
my classroom was when
I told the students to
“sit tight,” and one my
NOMINATED BY:
SHANNON Z.

Children would
much rather
have your
presence than your
presents. students literally folded
into his seat.

What makes you excited
to go into your school
each day?
Working with the children.

I’m fortunate to have
spent my entire teaching
career working at Bells
Mill and have formed
wonderful relationships
with students, parents and
staff members. Ironically, I
too attended Bells Mill as
a student and my parents
still live in the Bells Mill
community. I get a great
kick out of seeing Bells
Mill students running and
playing outside whenever I
go to my parents’ house.

What advice would you
give to aspiring teachers?
If you are considering
teaching at the
elementary school level,
you need to be passionate
about working with
children, more so than
being passionate about a
specifi c content area. You
need to want to improve
children’s lives on a daily
basis and genuinely care
about their well-being.

They are children fi rst,
students second.

“Bobby regularly goes
above and beyond
expectations. He
imbues every lesson
with humor. There
is often laughter
emanating from
his classroom. He
is kind and patient
with his students
and has an excellent
rapport with them.

He understands the
students’ different
learning styles and
adjusts instruction
accordingly. Bobby creatively
enriches the
curriculum and keeps
students’ engaged in
learning. He provides
health time to
ensure students get
adequate amounts of
exercise during the
week. His behavior
management techniques create a
respectful learning
environment. Bobby
deserves to be
recognized for his
effort, dedication and
talent.” SPONSORED BY:
washingtonFAMILY.com August 2017
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