Carpentersville teacher named favorite in local contest
A fifth-grade teacher from Lakewood Elementary School in Carpentersville has been named the local winner of the Barnes & Noble “My Favorite Teacher” contest.
Terie Stephenson, who has taught gifted students at the school for seven years, was chosen from 25 entries at the Barnes & Noble at Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee.
“I am humbled by it,” said Stephenson, who was among the 363 teachers and administrators in Community Unit District 300 who recently got notice they’d be laid off. “I don’t want to be put on a pedestal ... It is nice to know that when you are doing a good job that you are recognized for it and that the kids like you.”
Diamond Mydlo, a student in Stephenson’s science and writing classes, submitted the winning essay. In it, Diamond describes how Stephenson makes learning fun and motivates students.
“Mrs. Stephenson is always saying as long as you try your best, that is all that counts,” Diamond wrote. “There’s a lot of things that I don’t understand in science, but I still love to learn about it.”
Diamond also said Stephenson has inspired her to go to college. The fifth-grader says she has Yale and Harvard universities in mind.
Stephenson said Diamond is not a hard student to motivate.
“Diamond wants to learn,” Stephenson said. “When you teach it is not about the tests, it’s about how you teach the kids and how you love them. If you give them respect, they will give the same respect back.”
Students were invited to nominate their teacher by writing essays, poems and thank you letters sharing how their teacher has influenced their life and why they appreciate and admire their teacher.
Stephenson will be recognized at an event starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Spring Hill Barnes & Noble. She will receive a set of 10 Sterling Children’s Classics for use in a classroom or personal library.
Stephenson will now be entered into the regional contest. From six regional winners, one will be named the “Barnes & Noble National Teacher of the Year.”