Teacher of the Month: December

Each month, fellow teachers nominate one teacher who they believe is worthy of the prestigious, highly sought-after title of Teacher of the Month! For December, that winner is our very own Algebra teacher, Junior Class Concessions Advisor, Mathlete Organizer, Arlington Teacher Alliance Secretary and Treasurer, Lead Team and RPP Team member and all-around amazing person, Mrs. Audrey VanHoose! In an effort to learn more about her life and the wonderful things she does, we asked her some extremely hard-hitting questions:

Did you have a teacher in school who inspired you?
Yes, I had a teacher when I was in school that inspired me. She inspired me by encouraging me through struggles, helping me to see that I can be a leader, instilling confidence.
Do you foresee this being your final job in life?
Yes, for now, I see this being my final job in life. If you would have asked me this at the start of my career, I would have said a professor at a college after I retire or get close to retirement, which, I guess, is still a possibility. Most recently, I have felt the need to want to become an administrator; not sure how far that will go though.
When you were a child, what was your dream job?
When I was a child, my dream job was teaching. <3
If you could go back and redo your first year of teaching, what would you do differently?
If I could go back and redo my first year of teaching, I wouldn't redo a thing because it's led me to where I am now and I love it. I can easily say I am not the same teacher now as I was then, for the better.
What drives you to get out of bed so early every morning?
Realistically, what drives me out of bed so early is to get myself around to be able to get my family around in the morning. Motivationally, what drives me out of bed is knowing I get an opportunity to make a positive difference in someone's life.
What have you learned from teaching?
What I have learned from teaching is that it can be challenging yet rewarding, that socio-economic status and support from home is the most influential factor on student's learning, and that you can lead a camel to water but you can't make it drink.
What is your main goal for teaching? What’s your main goal in life?
My main goal for teaching is to help as many students grow and achieve success as much as possible on whatever level that may be for students -- to get the "light bulb" to go off every day.
Who is in your family?
The people in my family are my husband, Richie, my son, Hudson, and my dog, Thea. I also have two parents, a brother, sister-in-law, and niece among many other in-laws and extended family.
What's your main goal in life?
My main goal in life is to live my best life, which is to be happy doing the things I love!
What activities do you participate in outside of school?
The activities I participate in outside of school are spending time with my family, watching tv/movies, and reading, and when I have time, TRX, step aerobics, and weight lifting.
If you could choose how to spend one day, doing whatever you'd like to do, what would you do?
If I could choose how to spend one day, doing whatever I would like to do, it would be laying out by a beach/pool in the warm sun somewhere in the south (perhaps Jamaica again), reading a book, sipping a cool drink, and spending time with my family.

Here’s what other teachers have to say about the wonderful Mrs. VanHoose!

Mrs. VanHoose is involved in a number of school committees and organizations on top of her outstanding service as a teacher. She invests a significant amount of time in the Arlington Local School District in order to make it a positive place for both students and staff.. Many people may not be aware of exactly how much time Mrs. VanHoose dedicates, but her involvement in the planning and implementation of the Red Pride Period for the High School, participation on the LEAD Team, and also service as the Treasurer and Secretary for the Arlington Teachers Association combine to consume as much time as a second full-time job. On top of her involvement in all of these activities and organizations, Mrs. VanHoose is also an outstanding, dedicated teacher who continues to invest significant time in her students' success as well. Her efforts to make our school district a great place for every student and staff member are what make her a deserving recipient of this recognition.

Audrey helps a lot at Arlington and we're thankful to have her on staff. She goes above and beyond in helping other teachers, helps coordinate RPP, does junior class concessions, and on top of that, still has time for teaching. Thanks for all you do Audrey. Audrey goes above and beyond and does everything 110%! She puts in so much extra time and does it all with a smile. She is supportive, positive, and reliable. We are lucky to have her!

Energetic, encouraging, engaging, dedicated, positive, and caring. These are only a few words that come to mind when I think of the December Teacher of the Month, Mrs. VanHoose! We are so lucky to have Mrs. VanHoose in our building. Not only is she a passionate teacher, but she takes on, and conquers, so many other roles - LEAD team member, Mathlete Leader, Junior Class Concession Advisor, ATA officer, RPP coordinator - and the list goes on and on. Thanks, Mrs. VanHoose for making us all step up to the plate and give our all!