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SCSD Teacher of the Year makes time to celebrate learning |
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Written by SCSD Public Information office
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Wednesday, 10 June 2009 |
 Julie Knight has always wanted to work in schools. “From the moment that I learned there was a place called school, I have wanted to be a part of that environment,” said the Utsalady Elementary School teacher.
Knight has been a part of Stanwood-Camano schools for 25-years and touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and parents. She finds a way to individualize learning for students by relating it to topics they are interested in.
This spring while meeting with a student, Knight discovered the boy’s love of reptiles. So she purchased some books about reptiles, bought him a composition book and some pens and pencils then placed them all in a container that is meant to be a home for a lizard if the boy wanted to eventually get one.
“I talked to him about Da Vinci and how he kept a notebook of his thoughts and sketches and how people interested in reptiles need to know how to read and write too.” She sent him home with the books and materials and was approached by the boy’s mother a few weeks later who thanked Knight and said the approach had been a big hit.
“I was glad that he saw he did love to learn after all,” Knight said.
Knight began her career teaching third grade and always told her students to work hard so they could “knock her socks off.” Soon after, a student who had been struggling to understand math multiplications finally had an “aha” moment where he completely understood the concept. After Knight went over a few more problems with him, the student looked up at her and asked if he had knocked her socks off. He had. Knight kicked off her shoes, removed her socks and began to wave them in the air while dancing around the room. The first sock dance that day left an impression on the class of students and Knight did a few more sock dances that year to motivate the students and celebrate when they went above and beyond to do their very best.
Knight currently works as a reading facilitator and reading/math tutoring supervisor at Utsalady Elementary on Camano Island. "All of my educational energies go toward helping make Utsalady the best learning environment for our students where it is a safe and encouraging place to ask questions and learn." No matter how busy she becomes, Knight still makes time to celebrate the accomplishments of students and good classroom performance. Occasionally she can be seen walking down the hallway with a goofy hat on her head, a bag full of socks, and a CD player on her way to a classroom to "get the party started” with one of her famous sock dances to celebrate their accomplishment.
Knight has another exciting reason to celebrate these days. She was named the Stanwood-Camano Teacher of the Year at the May 19th school board meeting. She explained to the Board of Directors that she enjoys her job working with children. "I enjoy talking to young people and hear what they have to say. I get dismayed when I hear a student say they don't like to read or don't like school. I find a way to show those students that they may not like the confines of school, but that they really do love to learn."
The Stanwood-Camano Teacher of the Year receives community-wide recognition and gifts from local businesses thanks to a partnership with Sterling Savings Bank, Stanwood Cinemas, and Maxime's Restaurant. In addition, Stanwood-Camano School District would like to thank The Skin Care Lounge, A Portrait by Indy, Island Massage, and Character Traits for their generous donations to The Teacher of the Year award program.
Julie Knight in the News!
HeraldNet: "It all started when a kid knocked her socks off"
HeraldNet: "Utsalady's sock-dancing teacher deserves the attention she's getting"
Photos
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Sock dance at the 5/19/09 School Board meeting for Mrs. Knight's Teacher of the Year award.
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Utsalady Elementary Principal Colleen Keller and SCSD Superintendent Jean Shumate join Julie Knight in her celebratory sock dance.
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Utsalady students, parents, and staff join Julie Knight in her October Teacher of the Month award celebration at the 10/21/09 School Board meeting.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 August 2009 )
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