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News
May 07 2010
Zoller
teacher named 2010 Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Katie Ferguson
 Congratulations to
Kathleen “Katie” Ferguson, a second grade teacher at Zoller
Elementary School who was named Schenectady City School District
2010 Teacher of the Year. Ferguson is now eligible to be a
candidate in the New York State Teacher of the Year program.
Superintendent
Eric Ely walked into Ferguson’s classroom Friday morning
unannounced, carrying flowers and balloons. The teacher, who
was working with a student, covered her face when she spotted
Ely, school Principal Pat Doyle, and other district
administrators. Ely explained to the students that their teacher was
selected as the “teacher of the year.”
"I couldn't
believe what I was seeing," said Ferguson about her morning
visitors and the big news. "I thought about a lot of
things in the moment, and I wished I hadn't worn jeans and
t-shirt for "fitness Friday."
Ferguson said she
was very surprised because she had heard many teachers were
nominated. "Among them one of my very talented colleagues
here at Zoller," she added. "I just couldn't imagine that
I'd be picked."
School Principal
Pat Doyle congratulated Ferguson. "She is a outstanding
educator," said Doyle. "She is a master teacher who excels
in every aspect of the profession."
Ferguson has been
teaching in the district since 1998. She taught first grade at
Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet School of Math, Science,
Technology and Invention from 1998-2007 and has been
teaching second grade at Zoller since.
Throughout her
career, Ferguson has served on an array of committees and
participated in a long list of professional development programs
and workshops. She also holds a black belt in Taikwondo and is
an instructor.
Ferguson said she
became a teacher because she thought it would help her be a
better mother someday. "I am still not a mother," she
said. "But I still hope to be."
There are many
things Ferguson said she enjoys about her profession.
"Working with children. Watching children learn. Reading
children's writing. Seeing a child understand something
and look up at me with happiness in his or her eyes," she said.
Doyle said the second
grade teacher comes to work everyday beaming with joy and
enthusiasm. "Her students thrive in her classroom and excel
beyond all expectations," said Doyle. "Like so many
teachers in the Schenectady City School District, Katie is able
to make urban education look easy." She continued, "We are
so fortunate to have such talented, humble, hard working, happy
teachers on our staff."
Linda Neeb, a
remedial reading teacher and Julie Foster, a special
education teacher at Zoller wrote letters in support of
Ferguson. Both heavily complimented her classroom
management and instructional styles.
“Mrs. Ferguson
always has a plethora of information and tools for dealing with
difficult children,” wrote Neeb, who worked in Ferguson’s
classroom every day for three years.
She said
Ferguson’s instructional style is clearly differentiated. “She
began Literacy Centers back in 2003, way before anyone in the
district was doing them,” she said. “She teaches in a way that
every child understands.”
Foster agreed.
She wrote that she believes the selection committee would be
hard-pressed to find a more qualified candidate for teacher of
the year. She provided a long list of Ferguson’s
qualities which centered around classroom management
style, behavioral management, collaboration as well as classroom atmosphere. “One of Ferguson’s many
strengths is in creating an environment where all students can
learn to their fullest potential,” wrote Foster.
Neeb added that
Ferguson goes above and beyond. “Mrs. Ferguson is dedicated,
extremely hard working, committed and an outstanding teacher,”
she wrote. “She is highly respected in her field. She is loved
and respected by all of her colleagues, the principal, the
parents and most importantly the students.” Neeb added, “She is
an inspiration to all.”
Ferguson said she
is so thankful and honored to have been nominated. "I will
work harder to deserve the title," she added. "My goal at
this point is just to keep doing the best I can to teach every
child and help them achieve their fullest potential, make sure I
stay connected with the parents and to keep learning about how
to be a better teacher."
The teacher of the
year said her second graders were excited about the news all
day. "We had a little party time to celebrate," she
said. "I bought everyone freeze pops, so now they agree
that I'm teacher of the year too."
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