CA PRIDE - MIRIAM TERRY

Some years back Miriam Terry told me that she really likes a challenge. Since then I have taken her at her word and called upon her many times when I need someone to “pioneer” something new. These challenges seem to energize Mrs. Terry and her enthusiasm is contagious to both her coworkers and her students..

In 2005, Mrs. Terry pioneered our first 4th grade class with ten excited students and a group of very supportive parents. A faculty committee helped her develop the curriculum and program. She taught all of the core academic subjects that year. At the same time, we began planning to add fifth grade in 2006. Happily, she was joined by Mrs. Bikowski that year to launch our first fifth grade class. Mrs. Terry chose to teach math and science to both grades while Mrs. Bikowski concentrated in language arts and social studies.

Mrs. Terry LOVES math especially University of Chicago Everyday Math. She even gets excited about teaching negative number subtraction to fifth grade students. (That is truly a mystery to me!) She also is equally enthusiastic about science and loves hands on projects. For example, fourth grade students raise oysters at Hoffler Creek, fifth grade students hatch chicks and grow spartina grass. You never know what you might find going on in her 4th/ 5th grade classroom. It is always an interesting place to visit.

Mrs. Terry also has administrative responsibilities serving both as math lead teacher and assistant head of school. She is currently taking school leadership classes through ODU . Now she can really connect with her students when they talk about homework, projects and tests because she has to do all that too.

You may not be aware that Mrs. Terry is an active participant in VAIS, our accrediting association. She currently is serving on the state conference planning committee . She has served on two accreditation teams at other schools. She is also the chair of the steering committee for CA’s ten year accreditation visit coming up in 2015.

Mrs. Terry has a great curiosity for learning new things and having new experiences. She shares this quest for knowledge with her students. This is not limited to academic knowledge. She knows it is important for our oldest students to become confident in their social and leadership skills. Her instructional approach often includes collaborative learning through which students must learn to work together as a team. She also seeks ways to help her students develop leadership skills through opportunities to mentor younger students such as the gardening project shared by 5th grade students and K-Cubs.

Most of all she is excited to see her students discover new things and master new skills whether they are academic or personal milestones. Many of our alums keep in touch with her because they know she is genuinely interested in how they are doing. When they have a special event or success, Mrs. Terry is just as excited as they are. Now that is what I call fostering a love of learning.