[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″ animation=”none” column_padding=”no-extra-padding” background_color_opacity=”1″][vc_column_text]Mr. Stroud explains his current agenda of fundraising to his students in PALS.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Mr. Early emphasizes to his students the importance of working harder in class even though the Biology EOC is over.
Photos by Dylan Hong[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” bg_position=”left top” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”5″][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A panel of seven teachers will select the district teacher of the year on today at a banquet, which English teacher Benjamin Stroud and Biology teacher Aron Early will be attending. Both were selected as teachers of the year for the school and Ninth Grade Center, respectively, on Dec. 17, as well as district finalists in February. They had to go through an essay portion and interview to contend.
“If I’m selected, I would be honored to represent Hebron to be district teacher of the year for the first time in Hebron history,” Stroud said. “I don’t teach to get recognition, I teach to help students find their voice through writing, presenting themselves and through leadership.”
While Stroud has been elected for teacher of the year 10 times, this is his first win. Senior Lindsay Lucas said she is proud of Stroud and that the electoral committee has a small part in narrowing down teacher of the year nominees.
“The three years I’ve been on committee, Mr. Stroud’s always been on our top five and for him to win it this year and for me to have a part in him winning this year is kind of rewarding, because he’s done a lot for me as much as I’m willing to do so for him,” Lucas said.
Lucas said she believes that Stroud’s managing Student Council as well as helping out the community is a key factor in his becoming teacher of the year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”40″][image_with_animation image_url=”4748″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self”][image_with_animation image_url=”4627″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self”][vc_column_text]Photos by Dylan Hong[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]“I think the teachers see how much [Stroud] does through Student Council, for the school,” Lucas said. “He betters the school and the community, and he’s a good academic teacher, so I think that definitely did help.”
Stroud has been teaching for 14 years, and came to the school in 2004. Early has been teaching for seven years, six of which were spent at both teaching at the main campus and the Ninth Grade Center. Freshman Nikita Belyaev said that what separates Early from other teachers is his distinctive and effective teaching style.
“He explains things, he’s interacting with students and yet, on the other side, he doesn’t do too much [for the class to the point] where it’s easy,” freshman Nikita Belyaev said. “He finds ways to make it interesting; that has made me pay more attention and learn much faster and work harder than I would have in the other [science] class. I see him all the time talking to other teachers and I think [they] look to him as a leader and look to him to know everything, and to schedule everything out, and show how it’s done.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]If either Stroud or Early become district teacher of the year, they will receive a monetary reward and compete for the title of regional teacher of the year. The state and national level will follow afterward.
“I like to make my students smile and I work with so many great teachers that could easily be in my place,” Early said. “So it is with great pride that I represent the teachers who work at the Ninth Grade campus”.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]