Classroom Stars
WA S H I N G T O N FA M I LY R E C O G N I Z E S
5 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
BY ADRANISHA STEPHENS
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR again to celebrate teachers, our everyday heroes. It is not an exaggeration
to say that a great teacher can empower and change a student’s life, in and out of the classroom.

That’s why Washington Family is honoring DMV-area teachers with our third annual Teachers of
the Year issue. We asked our community readers to nominate an exemplary and influential local
teacher to be recognized for this honor. After a handful of nominations, we identified five notable
teachers to be featured in this issue. With an array of backgrounds and specialties, each of our
winners embodies the compassion, selflessness and dedication that make for a great educator.

We are excited to share their journeys with you. Meet our Teachers of the Year.

the role of assistant headmaster in 2016.

In this role, she is not only able to continue
teaching, but also to educate the faculty
at Immanuel through on-going pedagogy
sessions for all teachers throughout the
year. Her love for teaching and learning is
demonstrated in the classroom and her work,
guiding and mentoring other teachers as they
grow in their roles as well.”
Katherine Katherine Kramer
ASS I TA N T H E A D M AST E R A N D
8 T H - G R A D E T E AC H E R AT
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL
IN ALEX ANDRIA , VA
“She inspires and challenges students to not
only explore but genuinely grow in their love
for the true, good and beautiful in the world,
and her door is always open.”
“Delightful. Witty. An incredible story-
teller. Compassionate. Caring. Dedicated.

Nurturing. Engaged. These are just a few of
the adjectives that spring to mind when
thinking about how best to describe
Ms. Katherine Kramer.”
What originally got you interested in teaching?
Both of my parents are very capa-
ble and inspiring teachers, so I’ve been
blessed with outstanding lifelong mod-
els. While neither teaches in a K-12
classroom, they educated my brother
and me, and still are continually educat-
ing and mentoring others. As a literature
major in college, my pedagogy professor’s
excitement, curiosity and deep com-
passion ignited my desire to teach and
ultimately led me to switch majors and
prepare for the fi eld of education.

“She has taught at ILS for nine years, first
teaching 2nd grade, and later moving into a
position in the Upper School before assuming
Why do you think teachers are essential?
Well, fi rst of all, I’d say that we’re not
nearly as infl uential as parents are in a
9-year teaching veteran
Nominated by Whitney Work:
22 Washington FAMILY
SEPTEMBER 2019
child’s life. Parents are the fi rst teach-
ers of their children, but teachers are
important precisely because we help
parents nurture, train and educate their
children. It’s a role that requires both
authority and humility. I look at my col-
leagues every day and am amazed at the
constant little vignettes of their aff ec-
tion and guidance that shape a child’s
outlook, community, discipline, sense of
belonging, knowledge and virtues.

What is the single best piece
of advice you can give parents?
Ask for forgiveness when you should
and freely give it when they need to be
forgiven. Also, please limit their use of
phones, video games and social media.

How can parents and teachers work
together to empower and engage children?
By communicating. By spending time
together. By being in a relationship
together. It’s simple but challenging
and rewarding.

If I weren’t teaching, I’d be …
That’s impossible to say because this
is my dream job. There is no other job
I’d fi nd more appealing, although I
wouldn’t mind a sabbatical year to try
writing children’s fi ction.