Stacey Pace of Washington Elementary in Sault Ste. Marie has been selected winner of the Chippewa County Credit Union Outstanding Teacher
$500 gift card giveaway.
The credit union received over 60 nominations from the community when it put out a call for teachers who go above and beyond in their profession and the community.
Pace, who teaches first grade, was selected because of the enthusiasm, dedication, and passion she puts into her classroom, and her students, a news release said.
Jennifer Metro, one of the ten people who nominated Stacey, applauded her on the attention she gives to each individual student.
“Mrs. Pace takes the time to get to know all her students and pays attention to the needs and different levels of learning and abilities of each child in her
class,” she said.
Along with this one-on-one attention, Stacey goes above and beyond her duties to ensure her students will have lasting memories in the classroom, the release added.
“She makes learning fun,” Nancy Smith said. “She often has special activities, like a full turkey dinner at Thanksgiving."
Seeing her students flourish is the motivation for Pace.
“I am very passionate about teaching because it is so rewarding to see the impact both socially and academically that I have on each of my students,” she said. “It is amazing to see the growth that they make from the start of the year until the end of the year.”
Even after 19 years, this passion has not faded.
“The excitement that my students have when they no longer struggle to read or even just become stronger readers is one of the most exciting and
rewarding parts of teaching,” she said. “My hope for my students is that when they leave my classroom they love to read.”
Helping students foster the love of reading is how she plans on using her $500 gift card.
“I know that I will buy some new books and some rocker chair floor seats for my students to read in and around the classroom.”
