Brandon Twp.- It’s a tale of two Tinas for the 2015 Teacher of the Year.
Tina Baldwin has been named the Brandon Teacher of the Year at the secondary (6th-12th grade) level, while Tina Olsen received the recognition at the elementary level (K-5).
The teachers were surprised in their classrooms with the revelation on Friday.
‘It’s my honor to announce Ms. Baldwin has been selected as teacher of the year,? said Superintendent Matt Outlaw in front of a room full of Brandon High School trigonometry students. ‘Thank you for all you do.?
Baldwin’s class burst into cheers and applause.
‘She’s really good at explaining things and helps me comprehend the material,? said BHS Junior Kyle Jennings. ‘This is one of my most challenging classes, but she is really open to answering questions.?
Senior Samantha Bageris agreed.
‘I’m so happy for her,? she said. ‘She’s always been there to help me break down the math one-on-one. She is very passionate about her students and what she teaches. Math is my least favorite subject, but she makes me feel comfortable and enjoy it.?
Baldwin has been a high school math teacher for 19 years, 15 of them in Brandon.
‘This is quite surprising,? she said. ‘It’s nice to know people appreciate what I do. I enjoy my students and sharing my passion with them. You have to really care about kids and where they’re going and what they’re doing.?
Nominations were sought from students, colleagues and parents for the honors, and among the comments Baldwin received were commendations for the long hours she puts in after school, going above and beyond to help her students.
‘She can be found here late at night working to help students in subjects from Algebra I to AP calculus,? wrote one colleague. ‘The thing I admire most about Tina is her ability to stay positive? she never gives up.?
The students in Olsen’s first grade class at Harvey Swanson had simpler, but no less heartfelt, comments about their teacher.
‘I like that she gives us treats and she’s really fun,? said Elizabeth Stevenson.
‘She’s funny, she teaches us math,? chimed in Mason Abney.
Andy Phillips, principal of Harvey Swanson Elementary, was more expansive about Olsen, a Brandon High School graduate and teacher in Brandon for nearly 25 years.
‘She really cares about our students and the good of our school,? he said. ‘She’s really positive and a master teacher. She meets the individual needs of each of our students. She takes it to heart if they’re struggling as a personal challenge. If they’re not struggling, it’s a personal challenge for her to keep them at that high level.?
When Phillips entered Olsen’s room, joined by Outlaw, as well as Olsen’s husband, Mike, son, Elijah, and a few colleagues, to announce she was the elementary teacher of the year, she expressed shock.
‘I love these children and I try to do my best for them everyday,? Olsen said simply. ‘The most rewarding thing is making a positive difference, everyday, in someone’s life.?