Every month during the school year three teachers are recognized as a Teacher on the Rise — one from an elementary school, one from a middle school/junior high and one from a high school. Each winning teacher will receive a $100 gift card from United Supermarkets and lunch for two to the Texas Tech Club. Each student who nominates a winning teacher will also win a $50 American Express gift card from Mrs Baird’s.
Frenship ISD had two Teachers on the Rise recognized during the 2021 – 2022 school year, Neil Pratt and Morgan Kirby.
When Neil Pratt, AP Physics and Chemistry Teacher at Frenship High School, won the award he said that he was honored to be nominated by his students.
"They described personal impacts from our class that were far beyond what I imagined," Pratt said. "What I felt at the surprise announcement of the award, and when hearing the nomination letters read, was that of a dream I’d never dared to dream had come true."
Heritage Middle School Choir Director, Morgan Kirby was also selected as a Teacher on the Rise in the 2020 – 2021 school year. In reflecting on her award Kirby shared that she truly appreciated that the nomination had come directly from her students.
“To me, it was more special that the kids nominated me, rather than a teacher nomination because the students are who I see every day and I try to make an impact in their lives,” said Kirby. “It makes me feel blessed to know that I’m making that much of an impact.”
Chelsey Campbell, the principal at Heritage Middle School said that she is excited about Teachers on the Rise kicking off again this year, and she is glad for the opportunity for teachers to hear directly from their students.
“I think for teachers this is the most special thing that can happen to them,” said Campbell. “This nomination comes directly from students and the students nominate them with their very own words. They tell all the ways that a teacher has made a difference in their lives and to a teacher that’s so much validation that your service has much such a difference to them and made an impact in their lives.”
Nominations are open for students now. To add extra incentive for students to get the nominations going, United Supermarkets and Mrs Baird’s have filled a bag full of back-to-school goodies that will be given to a random student who makes a nomination in the first month. Included in this gift bag will be a $50 American Express gift card for the student and Free Mrs Baird’s Bread For A Year for the student’s family!
The nomination form for Teachers on the Rise can be found at www.MrsBTeacher.com. For more information about the Teachers on the Rise program visit our Community Bulletin Board.