Polk County Schools selects district's Teacher of the Year
Polk County Public Schools announced on Wednesday the district’s winners for its 2023 teacher and school employee of the year.
Natalie McSwain, a Spanish teacher at Lake Gibson High, is the 2023 Polk County Teacher of the Year, the district posted to its website.
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Julie Whiteley, the principal’s secretary at Garner Elementary, is the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year.
McSwain and Whiteley will each receive a cash prize donated by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, custom rings by Herff Jones and other gifts. As Teacher of the Year, McSwain will also receive a car, courtesy of Lakeland Automall.
"My students are over the moon," she said on Thursday by phone. "They keep asking me for a fiesta!"
McSwain stood out “for her excellent communications skills, helping to translate important information for Spanish-speaking parents so they are kept informed,” the district said.
She also is a classroom "innovator" based on her teaching methods. She decided to remove desks and arrange her students in chairs for group discussions.
McSwain researched the technique and sees her students' abilities to speak, read and write Spanish growing every day. She also does not use textbooks and after they complete their lessons, she offers them "brain breaks."
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The catch is after they spin a wheel to determine which type of brain break they get, all the options are in Spanish giving them another way to learn the language. There is a triangle space on the wheel for roca, papel, tijeras (rock, paper, scissors), veo veo (I spy..), charadas (charades) and cuatro esquinas (four corners), among other restful activities.
The Lake Gibson administrators said they often take other teachers to McSwain’s classroom to observe her techniques. She also is heavily involved in school activities and professional development events, and has served as the girls lacrosse coach.
McSwain is “adored” by the LGHS community and considered a “force of nature,” the district said.
Regarding Whiteley at Garner Elementary, she’s known to be the first person to arrive at work and warmly greets students and employees as they come to school. Her relationships with all the staff is positive.
“Whiteley takes time to read to students and comforts them when they are sick,” the website said. “She also cheers their academic progress and good behavior.”
Garner administrators said the school runs more efficiently because of the systems Whiteley has developed. In addition, she volunteers her time with the school’s advisory committee and Parent Teacher Organization.
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The Polk School District celebrated McSwain, Whiteley and many of the district’s other outstanding employees during Wednesday’s Inspire Awards at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
Others recognized included Rodrick Gray, principal of the year from Laural Elementary, and Sarah Miranda, assistant principal, at Mulberry Middle.
The Inspire Awards are presented by the Polk Education Foundation and Polk Schools' Department of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships.
Both winners will be entered into the competition for the state of Florida title, which is held each year by the Florida Department of Education.
Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County Schools selects district's Teacher of the Year
