Roy Clark Elementary -  Bethany Deramo, 1^st Grade

First grade teacher Bethany Deramo has been named the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year for Roy Clark Elementary School.

“I have always believed that children are valuable and that a high quality education is one of our society’s most vital offerings,” Deramo said. “I became a teacher because I am passionate about helping young learners to develop curiosity about the world and to find a joy in learning that will fuel their personal education journey.”

That journey looks a little different this year with masks and social distancing.

“In early childhood grades, learning centers around playful, hands-on exploration of materials and community. This year has been different and challenging because many of those materials are no longer safe to be shared, and because students cannot work closely in peer groups,” Deramo said. “Early childhood teachers are finding creative ways to incorporate valuable explorations and social learning while still implementing healthy practices. The playful learning and community in my first grade classroom has looked like scavenger hunts, studying and writing about personal pumpkins, creating words and numbers from nature items like sticks and leaves, and keeping learning relevant by using students’ personal examples and experiences.”

Deramo’s first year teaching was at Union in 2017 - in a kindergarten classroom.

“I obtained my Bachelor’s of Science degree in Early Childhood Education in 2016 from Northeastern State University,” she said. “Last year, I added English as a Second Language to my certification. I am currently seeking to become a certified Reading Specialist by completing the Master’s in Reading program at Northeastern State University.”