Gretchen Riley is an English for Speakers of Other Languages or ESOL teacher at Baldwin. Ms. Riley’s nominator raved about her ability to plan meaningful and coherent instruction for her students. She has created her own curriculum plan that is dynamic and innovative. Because of her expertise and innovation, the administration has chosen her to pilot a self-contained BASIC first grade program for next year. What a compliment to a new teacher! Ms. Riley’s road to the classroom is a bit different than others’.
After college and graduate school, she entered the business world only to find herself daydreaming of becoming a teacher. She made the decision to go for it by participating in the Career Switcher Program offered through the Virginia Community College System.
Ms. Riley says it’s hard to put into words what she has learned during her first year of teaching. She has found that she and her students are a reflection of each other. One of the most important things she has learned is how much of an influence a teacher can be on a student.
It calls her to excellence to know that they are watching her and learning from her example and it forced her to push for 100% at all times. After all, she says, if you don’t strive for 100%, you will not achieve it. This award proves she is giving it her all!