Teacher of the Year: Becky Rhodes

Title 1 Reading and Math teacher Becky Rhodes was named for Cartersville Elementary School after 28 years in her profession. The distinction is granted to instructors who demonstrate not only exemplary ability in the classroom, but who serve as role models and mentors to the students they teach.

Rhodes holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Radford University, as well as a master's degree in Early Childhood Education and a specialist degree in Curriculum.

My philosophy of education reflects back on who I am as an individual,” said Rhodes. “I am by nature caring and compassionate. Therefore, my instinct is to take care of the whole child.”

Operating under the belief that every child can and will learn, Rhodes believes it is important to offer a safe and secure environment for students — where they can thrive as individuals without fear of embarrassment or failure, and are encouraged to succeed.  

“I believe hands-on learning should be used whenever possible. High expectations should be communicated to every student,” said Rhodes. “The goal is not to do just enough to get by, but to challenge students to go beyond what they already know. As Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story frequently exclaims, ‘To infinity and beyond!’”  

Rhodes dedicates herself to a variety of methods necessary to engage students throughout the evolution of their instruction.

“Students have a way of worming themselves into your heart and making an impact you will never forget,” said Rhodes. “Those connections you make with students, while interacting with them in school, never completely go away.”

Rhodes incorporates unique and creative strategies into her teaching style to capture and hold her student’s attention, claiming that she will eagerly toss her dignity aside in achieving that end.

“I do whatever it takes to get students' attention — corny jokes, word plays, sing made up songs or songs I know even though I don't sing well, plays, and read in voices that match the characters in books in order to help them come alive,” said Rhodes. “The last one is a favorite among the third graders.”

Rhodes, who is honored to have been selected as Teacher of the Year, considers her most noteworthy accomplishments to be the impact she’s made in the lives of her students. Throughout the past 28 years she has taught students from first through fifth grades, been a Title 1 Reading/Math teacher, tutored, mentored new teachers and coordinated after school tutoring programs.

“The future holds a lot of many mores — more challenges, more connections, more heart melting smiles, more successes meeting the needs of the students I teach,” said Rhodes. “I will strive to stay an effective teacher. I will continue to be a life-long learner and take classes to stay abreast as new strategies and policies are developed. Teaching is as much a part of me as it is my profession.”

Looking back on an essay she wrote while taking classes to earn her education degree, Rhodes found an excerpt that she feels encompasses the greatest accomplishment of her field.

"Now, of course, I would love to wear the crown of the World’s Greatest Teacher. It would be surreal to be presented the million-dollar prize for being the greatest, however, no matter which the panel chooses, I already feel as if I have won in the eyes of my adoring third graders who frequently show me how they feel,” wrote Rhodes. “But if I don’t, I will still have at least a million smudgy fingerprints on my clothes, a million minutes worrying about a child, a million hugs that warm my heart and soul, a million moments where my eyes connect with a child’s, a million smiles when a child shows they understand, at least a million gray hairs from trying times, a million stories to tell about a job I love, and I hope, a million times where I have made a difference.”