Abigail Skidmore, a high school English teacher at Coldwater High School, has been selected as the Sturgis Journal + John B. Simpson Co. Amazing Teacher of the Month.
Nikkijo Dirschell nominated Skidmore, describing an educator whose work reaches beyond strong lessons and polished writing assignments.
“She connects with students like I’ve never seen before,” Dirschell wrote. “She also gives back to the community. She’s a published author. She is all around amazing and deserves this.”
About the Amazing Teacher
Skidmore is going into her sixth year of teaching and her second year at Coldwater High School. This school year, she will teach English 9, English 11 and Creative Writing. Before coming to Coldwater, she spent four years at Burr Oak Community Schools, where she taught grades 5-12 and classes including psychology and yearbook.
Her path to teaching began in a high school English classroom, where a teacher recognized the same love of language she now works to draw out in her own students.
“My 12th grade English teacher, Mrs. Smith, believed in me, saw my passion for reading and writing, and I wanted to be just like her as a teacher.”
A classroom built on stories
If Skidmore’s classroom had a theme song, she would choose “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, a fitting anthem.
“This song says it all, all of our stories are yet to be completed and high school is just one chapter of who these students are and who they are going to become.”
A memorable classroom moment
One final project at Burr Oak became the kind of classroom story that lasts long after grades are turned in. Students were asked to build shoebox dioramas based on scenes from books they had read. One student told Skidmore he had left his project in the office, while the rest of the class tried not to laugh.
When he returned, the diorama included two live baby chickens as the main characters.
Skidmore, who runs a small farm, said her students knew how often the class had talked about chickens that year. The project was funny, but it was also thoughtful, a sign of the connection they had built together.
“It really showed the connection we had built that year and was a sort of end-of-the-year prank that I will never forget!”
Her advice for students
“Give the amount of respect you would like back from others.”
Do you know an Amazing Teacher?
The Amazing Teacher program, sponsored by John B. Simpson Co. in partnership with the Sturgis Journal, recognizes educators whose compassion, creativity and dedication inspire students and strengthen their communities. Teachers are selected monthly, honored locally and entered for opportunities to receive both local prizes and national-level recognition and awards.
Is there an Amazing Teacher in your life? Let’s hear about them! Nominations are open to all. Go here to submit your favorite teacher.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Meet the John B. Simpson Co. Amazing Teacher for the month: Abigail Skidmore
Reporting by John B. Simpson Co. Amazing Teachers Program / Sturgis Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John B. Simpson Co. Amazing Teachers Program | USA TODAY Network
