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District names its teacher of the year
The Mountain Home School District recently named a second grade teacher from East Elementary School as this year's top educator.
Finishing her second year at East, Robynn Crawford started teaching five years ago as a third grade instructor at West Elementary School.
Growing up in southern Idaho, Crawford was used to the academic environment. Her mother taught in first grade classrooms at Boise area schools and often brought along her daughter.
"Before I even started school myself, I was always in a classroom," she said. "It was quite an experience being part of my mom's life as a teacher."
Unlike most of her peers that often dreaded going to school, Crawford's view of school was nearly the exact opposite. She credits her teachers that challenged and inspired her to succeed.
"I've always been around great educators from the time I started first grade on up," she said. "Everyone I dealt with were people that I enjoyed."
A former dance instructor in Mountain Home, Crawford knew she'd become a teacher one day. Earning her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Boise State University, she opted to teach general education due to her lifelong desire to tackle an assortment of subjects every day.
"As soon as I could, I wanted to get back here and start teaching," she said.
Although teaching third graders posed its own unique challenges, having the opportunity to work with younger second grade students offers different rewards, she said.
"For second graders, it's a big growing year for them," Crawford added. "They've just come to realize that they really can read." It's this overall feeling of confidence that she enjoys seeing in children at this grade level.
"It's just the best job ever... just a heartwarming career," she said. "I get to laugh every day . You can't find anything more rewarding and fun at the same time."
Her greatest challenge is making sure she meets the needs of each student every say.
"There's just no enough time during the day sometimes to feel that I've given my students everything I've got to offer them," she said.
The award-winning educator admits she never tires from all the challenges associated with teaching.
"When I leave my classroom at the end of the day, I'm excited for the next day," Crawford said. "It's exciting to see what challenges tomorrow will bring."
In addition to teaching elementary education, she remains active in other avenues in the local school district. In addition to serving on the school's insurance and celebration committees, she was a member of the local Response to Intervention exemplary school and Title I honored school programs.
The Mountain Home educator goes on to represent the district at the state's 2010 Teacher of the Year competition.