Q&A WITH COLORADO TEACHER OF THE YEAR

INTERVIEW WITH 2022 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AUTUMN RIVERA

Colorado Parent: What is your favorite part of being an educator? Autumn Rivera: My favorite part of being an educator is the ability to build relationships with my students and their families. I love teaching them about science, but just getting to hear about their lives is so special. When they update me on their latest football game, dance recital, ski race, or new sibling, it always makes me smile. I am lucky to live in a very tight knit community where I also get to teach siblings and cousins of students. To meet students as sixth graders and then watch them graduate six years later is such a gift. I am so honored to have the amazing students I do.

CP: What makes being an educator most challenging? AR: One major challenge is time. There is just not enough time to do all the things I wish I could do for my students. Between grading, meetings, lesson plans, conferences, and phone calls, the day is filled with so many different tasks pulling me in different directions. I wish I had more time to focus on my students and how I can support them. I look forward to the day when education in Colorado is fully funded and we can fully staff our schools with all the support they need. CP: What specific area outside of school subjects do you see current students struggling with the most? In an ideal situation, what do you think would help with this the most? AR: After two years of persevering through COVID-19, our students have come out stronger. Their learning shifts are areas to celebrate, and I have never been prouder. However, one area in which students need a bit more support is with their social skills. As students were not around their classmates for so long, they did not learn the social skills that one learns during their formative years. I notice many students entering eighth grade that still having the social skills of a fifth or sixth grader. They will catch up and figure it out, but we can help our students by providing more specific social-emotional support. COVID-19 was traumatic for all of us, including our students. Helping them process that trauma while also providing them the steps they need to move forward will help us all move forward.

CP: What tip can you give parents on how they can best support student learning at home (that is realistic for busy families)?

AR: Talk to your children about school. Ask questions that are more specific than “what did you do today?” Ask your children what challenged them, what made them smile, or how they were able to show kindness. Ask to see their latest test score or book they are reading. With most schools using online systems for teaching and/or grading, it is now very simple for a child to pull up an assignment to show their families. Celebrate the successes and help your child make plans for areas of growth. I know this can be more difficult as children enter the “teen tunnel,” believe me, I’ve been teaching middle schoolers for 17 years. However, when children know their parents are interested, even if they act annoyed, they want to do better.

CP: What’s a method or practice you’ve discovered that generally helps to keep kids motivated?

AR: In my 17 years of teaching, the one method that works best to motivate students is to get to know them. Learn what they are interested in and what gets them excited. Once I know that, I am able to tailor instruction to pique their curiosity. When learning relates to their lives, students are more engaged and their learning is more authentic.

CP: What’s your philosophy on homework? AR: I understand the importance of practicing work outside of class. And in an ideal world, I would be in support of homework. However, my students come from all walks of life; I find many times that homework is not a measure of how much a student knows, but instead a measure of how much support a student has outside of school. Therefore, I do not assign a lot of homework in my class. I instead provide opportunities in class to demonstrate individual understanding of content.

CP: What skill do you think is most important for students to develop while at school? AR: The most important skill for students to develop while at school is perseverance—to work even when they don’t want to. For some, perseverance in school is the easiest thing and for others it is very difficult. I try to tie in persevering in sports and how that same skill can tie into school life. When students learn they can transfer that strength from one area of their lives to another, it’s amazing what they can do! CP: Anything else you’d like to add? AR: Teaching in Colorado is such a gift. I love working in a community where I am supported by students and parents alike. It is crucial to remember that my students are not just my students, but our community’s students. We all need to work together in order to provide the best educational experience for them, as strong education builds strong communities.