Jennifer L. Terry ‘08 was honored by the Fort Worth ISD as the XTO Energy Chair for Teaching Excellence in Early Childhood Education on December 4, 2013. Terry was one of fifteen Fort Worth ISD teachers named as the 2013-2014 Academic Chairs for Teaching Excellence. The selected teachers formally receive the title of Chair of Teaching Excellence as well as a $5,000 honorarium.

The FWISD Chairs for Teaching Excellence program was established in the Fort Worth ISD in 1994. It is modeled after the university-level Chair program and is designed to recognize and reward exemplary teachers. Terry said she had applied for the award for the past four years and described winning the award as an honor and a blessing. Terry said, “My principal was the first to notify me that I had won and I was so excited that it caused my colleagues to come down the hallway to see what all the commotion was about!”

According to the Fort Worth ISD press release, teachers are nominated by parents, principals or colleagues or they may self-nominate. Finalists must undergo a rigorous three-part evaluation process including conducting a teaching demonstration before a distinguished panel of judges. “A portion of the application process required me teach a panel of two stakeholders a kindergarten lesson, as if they were my kindergarten students. I have to admit it was quite entertaining teaching a kindergarten lesson to adults, but they were great students,” she said.
Terry described “teaching excellence” as something that requires one to be passionate, sacrificial, professional, loving and caring. “The information that we pour into our student’s inquisitive minds is the exact information they will utilize as a generation of future leaders. Are we empowering them with everything that they need to go into the world to succeed or to fail?” Terry said.

Terry enjoys making learning fun for her student by incorporating singing, dancing and playing games in her lessons. “Seeing the excitement on my students' faces as they enter the room anticipating the learning adventure we will experience each day is amazing,” she said. “As an educator, there is nothing more rewarding than being blessed with the opportunity to impact lives on a daily basis.”

Terry graduated from the TCU College of Education with a degree in Early Childhood Education and currently teaches kindergarten at Bruce Shulkey Elementary School in Fort Worth. She was also awarded Campus Teacher of the Year in 2012.

For more information on the award, please visit
http://www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/News/3485793122613192164