Deb Hurst
Joe Dan Mills Elementary School
Austin, TX

"My classroom reflects the real world. I want to celebrate the differences of each child and family. My 'teaching' job is to create a literate, problem-solving, risk-free, higher-level critical thinking, encouraging environment for all children taking into account their individual needs, and learning styles. But, I also want all children to be included, accepted and develop empathy for others. I want to set an atmosphere of trust and let each child develop a positive self -concept… to feel proud of who they are. The parents, children and I have learned, 'we are all the same in different ways.'"

"Deb not only inspires her students, but also her parents and other teachers with her creative, child-centered approaches. Deb is a master at building classroom community which she begins on day one by encouraging and modeling empathy and compassion for others. She encourages her parents to become a network by hosting family centered events."

Deb designs her teaching to help facilitate oral language development by using hands-on materials and concrete experiences. Real, rich and complex ideas and materials are the heart of the curriculum. The key focus of her kindergarten class is oral language development for ALL children. Deb has a vision that all children can be included in the regular classroom and works daily by modifying instruction for each child to make that vision a reality. Deb's school developed the STAR program (Students and Teachers Always Reaching) to include children with disabilities in the regular classroom, and her previous inclusion program was awarded a state Promising Practice Award and was a model for the state.

Other Highlights:

• Nationally Board Certified by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and an assessor
• Member of National Association for the Education of Young Children and attended many national conferences
• Region XIII's Teachers Leading Teachers Program to explore current research & methodologies in Early Childhood Education; explore literature, develop workshops and present to others in the region, 1989- present
• Member, High/Scope certified teachers and has presented workshops in Austin and Texas as well as attending an international convention
• Trainer for New Teachers in her district and mentor to new teachers and intern teachers
• Member, Teacher Leadership Development Program
• Past President of Iowa Teachers of the Hearing-Impaired and set up a statewide conference
• Member of STAF committee (Area Teachers of the Year) to meet monthly with the Superintendent on educational issues
• Curriculum writer for her district and developing kindergarten benchmarks for math
• Teacher of the Year at Galindo and Mills Elementary and twice a semi-finalist in Austin ISD's Teacher of the Year
• Twice semi-finalist in HEB Excellence in Education Award