Audrey Vaughn | Teacher of the Month – Rotary Club of Beloit

Rotary Club of Beloit Teacher of the Month April 2016

Passion in Education

Mrs. Vaughn, who was recently honored as a Beloit School District Teacher of the Month, is quick to make that known through her heartfelt words about not only her sixth grade classes at McNeel Intermediate School but also her colleagues and career as a whole.

As she explains, “I have said this many times, this is my niche in life. This is what I value. This is what I enjoy doing — going to work just knowing that I do make a huge difference for my children and their family. This isn’t work for me. This is a passion.”

That would be passion with a capital P, according to McNeel Principal Joe Vrydagh, who nominated Mrs. Vaughn for the award. As he says, “Mrs. Vaughn is an iconic figure at McNeel Intermediate School. Her greatness transcends the classroom. Although she is a master teacher and her students consistently demonstrate academic growth, Mrs. Vaughn also forges strong connections with each of her students. These vital connections are strikingly apparent as you enter her classroom. Students are busily engaged in the day’s activity and always on-task. Relationships among students are respectful and collaborative and of course, students love and respect Mrs. Vaughn supremely. All of this is due to her unique presence, charisma, and deep-seated character, which are always on display; she is a true model for each of her students.

“Year after year, students who are unsuccessful in other settings and with other teachers find great success with her. Finally, Mrs. Vaughn is mentor and leader among her peers. They understand and acknowledge her important role here at the Home of the Lancers and many of them seek her out when they need support or insight into their own work.”

Before Beloit

Emphasizing that she has great admiration and respect for her colleagues and administrators, Mrs. Vaughn said she has been in the district for 25 years and at McNeel for 22 years. “I love this school district and I love McNeel,” she can’t help adding.

“I am looking at nearly 30 years of teaching,” she says. “I taught in Germany, Texas and Illinois before Beloit. I am from Memphis. I’m a Southern girl, born and raised in Memphis. But my husband was in the military so we travelled.” After being in Germany, they went to Texas. Then through a friend in Texas, she learned of a teaching position in Freeport, Illinois. “Within three days I was hired,” she says. “But my husband could not find work in Freeport. And we had people telling us about all these other places, including Beloit. I put an application in with the Beloit school system and they called me in two days. And rest is history.”

Importance of Children

Continuing, Mrs. Vaughn says, “I started in this business to be with children. To educate children. To develop relationships with children. To be that person who they can depend on. To encourage them to excel to the best of their ability. I cannot imagine being in trenches with children.

Today, Mrs. Vaughn sees the results of her efforts when she runs into now former students. And it brings her great joy – joy with a capital J. “You know when I see them,” she says, “they just want to share so much with me. What they are doing at the moment. What their future plans are. They want me to know they are on high honor roll and involved in many endeavors throughout the community. Many of them do quite a bit of volunteering in the community. And I am really proud of that. Many volunteer at Caritas and at various child development centers. They go out and seek employment. They work in the community. That’s always so rewarding.”

This is especially gratifying, she says, each year as high school graduation approaches and in relation to students who have had great challenges. “To see those children make it,” she says, “to see those children strive, to see that they set their goals and that they have achieved their goals and that they are getting ready to graduate and go on — that is just wonderful to see. Many children have struggles and their families have struggles. For those parent and those students to actually get ready for graduation is a huge accomplishment.”

Relationships With Parents

For Mrs. Vaughn, showing the extent of her commitment has always been vital to such success. “If I have students in a band concert, I go. If I have a sick child, I go visit… For me, forming relationships with parents is huge. Once they trust me, that I always have the best interest of their student in mind, parents call me. They can call with any question at any given time…”

Essentially, Mrs. Vaughn says, parent trust and involvement are vital – with a capital V. “We all are stakeholders here and parents need to know their children are so valued by the staff members, the teaching staff, the staff period. But we would also appreciate parents to continue to be involved with their children’s education

“To continue to be involved parents — that’s huge because raising children in this day and age is quite tough. You know, you have peer pressure and so many different beliefs. We want parents to do the best they can do and be engaged in the education process — be there for their children. …That means checking on your child, being engaged in their education. Have a conference. Have a phone conference…

“It gets tough for parents. Raising our children is not always a bed of roses. Talking with parents encourages them to continue to do their best…

“I think parent involvement is the key. It is so important. …Parent involvement …makes a world of difference. …When a child knows that parents and teachers are all working together, they have the tendency to perform well.”

That is what Mrs. Vaughn’s students at McNeel have always known, a teacher who who loves teaching. That is, LOVES teaching.

The post Audrey Vaughn | Teacher of the Month – Rotary Club of Beloit appeared first on School District of Beloit News.