Learning: DisneyHand Teacher Awards: The 2004 Honorees
Jeffrey Thompson
Elementary: Early Childhood - Kindergarten

Jeffrey Thompson
Evergreen Elementary
Fort Lewis, WA

"I am lucky in that I don't only teach children, but I have the opportunity to teach adults as well." I teach classes on classroom management to middle school and elementary teachers as well as parenting classes to military families. I help the parents develop skills that will enable their children to make good behavior choices and become responsible adults. I also help military parents, which are now temporarily single parents, focus on the one thing in their lives that they can influence, their children's educations."

-- Jeffrey

"What sets Mr. T's thematic teaching apart from other classrooms is that, in the midst of fun, he never loses sight of the learning targets. Each moment of the school day is purposely designed to support reading and problem solving. He imparts the joy of teaching and learning to our entire community. He inspires our teachers to challenge their own standards and expectations; he inspires parents to join in their children's learning."

-- Christine Hinds, Principal

After nearly ten years in the business field, Jeff could no longer ignore his call to teaching. While still employed full time, he began two separate education endeavors. He attended classes toward his teaching credentials during his lunchtime and weekday evenings while he worked toward his Masters in Education on the weekends. After a year of study, he took a "leap of faith" and quit his job so he could complete his student teaching. Little did he know where his journey in education would lead him. For the last 6 years, Mr. Thompson, "Mr. T." as his students call him, waves his badge and passes through an armed security gate to teach Kindergarten at Evergreen Elementary School, located on the Fort Lewis US Army Post in Washington State. Mr. T's goal is to shift the paradigm for how Early Childhood education is perceived and taught. His Learning Lab is vastly different from the experience most adults had in Kindergarten. Mr. T sets high standards for both his students and parents. He has shifted the focus from exposure of learning skills to mastery of reading and writing and offers a stable place for the students to immerse themselves in their learning. Mr. T believes that setting higher standards in Early Childhood can significantly impact the future academic success of our youth. At the conclusion of each year, Mr. T. creates a digital slide show on a CD so children have a permanent record of their year and can also share it with parents serving in Iraq.

Other Highlights:

  • Bachelors of Business Administration degree
  • Masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Creative Arts in Learning
  • Teaches 9 Essentials of Teaching with Love and Logic courses to Elementary and Middle School Teachers
  • Teaches Parenting with Love and Logic courses to military parents
  • Site Council Facilitator
  • Core Committee Facilitator
  • Former music and art specialist