This week’s Orthopaedic Center of Southern Illinois MVT–Most Valuable Teacher Award–goes to Miss April Flexter, a first grade teacher at Bluford Grade School.
First the holiday, then snow days delayed our visit to her class. On the day we did visit, the class was testing their mini-catapults they built out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons.
“So I try to rotate the kids,” Flexter said. “I try to give them flexible seating and different options so they have a little bit of fun while they’re still at their desk because they can’t share supplies. They have to maintain the six feet social distancing rule. Just giving them a little bit of freedom while they’re following the rules has been a great strategy.”
The flexible seating is something Flexter was able to purchase for her classroom as part of more than two thousand dollars worth of grants she secured.
“I’ve got wobble stools, and then some have chairs with what they call feet fidgets,” Flexter said. “And you can put your feet on them and wiggle while still being engaged. It’s amazing. It’s not loud. It doesn’t disrupt the class. They’re still maintaining their social distancing while appropriately learning.”
Another grant enabled Flexter to get a Social and Emotional Curriculum for her class.
“I think it’s very important especially for all kids, but little kids to be able to express their emotions, to understand their emotions,” Flexter said. “Sometimes they don’t understand what they’re feeling, especially this year–it’s different. You can’t see people’s facial expressions. It’s hard to get that one on one personal attention, but teaching them coping skills and different words to express their feelings has really helped them whenever they’re struggling, or I’m struggling, and we can communicate together.”
While the pandemic has certainly presented challenges, Flexter says there are plenty of positives to away–especially when it comes to the kids.
“I will never listen to anybody that says kids can’t do that,” Flexter said. “”Oh kids can’t wear the mask.’ ‘Oh you’re not gonna be in school.’ Oh no, we can! It’s that attitude that you have to have. You have to find the ways. You have to problem solve. You have to strategize. You have to have that team member that is willing to work with you. I think that people that say kids ‘can’t’ have not been in the classroom, because they can!”
In her nomination, Jessica Case had this to say: “Miss Flexter deserves to be an MVT simply because she goes above and beyond. She makes learning fun and interesting for the students. One example is she made a people size gingerbread house in her classroom to motivate the students! You just can’t get a more caring teacher than Miss Flexter. The students in her classroom love her as well as the parents. I am speaking from a parent perspective. I’m sure her co-workers and administration can tell you many more ways she positively impacts her 1st graders, other students in our district, co-workers and community! Miss Flexter is the best!!!”
If you know of a Most Valuable Teacher, let us know. You can nominate a Most Valuable Teacher here.