Teacher Frances Posey says all students can learn and succeed
January 24th, 2008, 4:08 am Hobby Shops
Reason for teaching: My love of children.
Greatest moment as a teacher: Communicating with a special-needs deaf and mute student. I learned to sign and he learned to “voice.” He was a student who was mainstreamed into my classroom from a self-contained class. He was very active and I was very structured, so we both had to adjust. The other students and I had to learn to communicate with him, as he did with us. None of us knew sign language and he could not voice clearly. We all were patient (as much as we could be) and tolerated his activities. He wanted to be everywhere in the room instead of sitting at his desk. We all had to endure the inability to communicate. After several weeks of practice, practice, practice, we all learned basic sign language and he was imitating our sounds. He began to voice more clearly. One day while I was attempting to help one student, someone insisted on tapping my shoulder and saying, “Bathroom, bathroom.” As I twirled around to reprimand this student for interrupting, I came face to face with my special-needs student, who was smiling, repeating the word “bathroom,” and signing at the same time. I felt an inch tall as tears began to swell in my eyes. I was so proud of him and his accomplishments. The class sat in silence and in awe of us. After giving him a huge hug and handing him a restroom pass, he continued to smile, voice “bathroom” and sign for bathroom as he ran out the door to the restroom. After a short time he returned still smiling, voicing and signing. We all rejoiced and celebrated our accomplishments.
Most embarrassing moment: When I fell out of my chair. It was a new teacher’s chair and I was showing it to my students when a part fell off the chair. I leaned over to pick it up and another part fell off and the back of the chair fell on the floor and I followed. We all laughed and then my students helped me up and made sure I was in one piece myself.
Least favorite part of teaching: Having a student not care and give up. All students can learn and succeed but a few feel they cannot proceed and progress. They stop trying. That breaks my heart.
People you admire most and why? My parents, W.J. and Jeanette Stapleton, (both deceased) for directing my steps and guiding my path and giving me purpose in life. For challenging me to set goals and for the moral values that they instilled in me. Without them and their input in my life, I would not be who I am and where I am in my life today.
Favorite movies: The Passion of the Christ, Facing the Giants
Last book you read and who wrote it?: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, cooking for others, sports, especially NASCAR, and football and being outdoors.
If you weren’t a teacher what career would you choose and why? Medical field. I have an associate’s degree in medical technology and I am a first responder, the person who arrives first to a person in need of medical attention. I have completed the requirements for administering oxygen, emergency response and CPR. I only assist if requested when the emergency medical technicians arrive. I love helping people.
Was there a special teacher that you remember? Ms. Hart, my fifth-grade teacher at Fairhope Elementary School in Bay Minette, Ala. She was very strict, demanding, loving and caring. She knew how to get me to go the extra step and was always there to help. Also, Mrs. Underwood, my 11th-grade homeroom and English teacher. Mrs. Underwood taught at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette, where I graduated. She continued at school the values my parents taught at home. She was a very knowledgeable teacher and Christian who shared both qualities with her students in and out of the classroom.
Frances Posey is the T. Dewitt Taylor Middle High School 2008 teacher of the year.
Volusia public and private school teachers will be profiled throughout the year. E-mail Eileen Marie Simoneau at vteachspot@mac.com or call her at 386-561-7356 or fax 386-851-7918. Include your name, phone number and a reason why you would like to see this teacher profiled.
PHOTO: Frances Posey (2nd from left) brainstorms writing ideas with students Jennifer Varela (from left), Angelica Lopez and Lazaro Millan at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle High School in Pierson. Posey hates to see students give up on learning EILEEN MARIE SIMONEAU/SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL
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