Thanksgiving Elementary teacher recognized with national award

Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SELMA — Thanksgiving Elementary third grade teacher Nicole Humphrey has figured out the secret of how to capture her students’ attention, and it’s as easy as opening a book.

Humphrey was named the 2023 Share the Magic Foundation Educator of the Year by the Share the Magic Foundation. “I’m completely shocked!” she said. “It’s an incredible honor.”

She learned about the award with fanfare befitting a celebrity. That fanfare included a top secret surprise coordinated by Principal Chad Jewett, her husband, teachers and faculty along with the entire third grade class, a.k.a. The Buffalo Bookworms.

Although the award was a surprise to Humphrey, it wasn’t for Jewett. He has known Humphrey from the beginning of her career with Johnston County Public Schools, and it was immediately apparent that she was special.

He has watched her foster relationships with her students, and believes she embodies all of the characteristics of a good teacher. “She truly has a heart for the kids, and the kids have a heart for her,” Jewett said.

A native of Johnston County, Humphrey’s love of reading began early on in life. She was that child reading under the covers with a flashlight, when she was supposed to be sleeping.

Humphrey has been a teacher with Johnston County Public Schools since 2007 serving in various roles. This is the fifth year that she and her students have participated in READBowl, a free global reading competition where PK-8 aged teams around the globe compete to read for the most minutes.

She stumbled upon the event when her mentor suggested finding a reading competition as a way to keep her students excited about reading. A quick Google search led her to “Read with Malcolm.”

Initially, Humphrey was intimidated by the fact that READBowl is a global competition, however, as she continued reading, she learned that it was free. “I was so excited to be able to participate,” Humphrey said.

Share The Magic Foundation was founded by 2017 Super Bowl champion, children’s book author and literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell. As a wide receiver for the University of Georgia and the New England Patriots, Mitchell received numerous awards during his athletic career. However, with all of those

A struggling reader himself, Mitchell entered college barely able to read. While he was receiving attention on the field for his athleticism, no one knew that he had “The Giving Tree" and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar" in his backpack to help him become a better reader.

So in 2016, Mitchell founded the Share the Magic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of reading and book ownership. The organization is especially geared towards helping striving and below grade-level readers who are at risk of academic failure.

The Foundation’s Read with Malcolm literacy initiatives are aimed at inspiring positive attitudes towards reading through in-school programs and national virtual reading challenges.

“I am proud to honor Nicole as Educator of the Year," said Mitchell. “Nicole is a key asset to our organization. Her dedication to her students and to their reading embodies our mission, and her passion is contagious. Thank you, Johnston County Public Schools, for such a great teacher,” Mitchell said.

Literacy is important to Humphrey, not only for the students that already have a love for reading, but for the ones who aren’t great readers. Her joy comes from being a part of their journey as readers, and opening doors for those students.

READBowl challenges children to find creative ways to read. One fun exercise Humphrey did with her students involved turning down the classroom lights, and letting them read their books with finger lights.

While that was exciting, the lesson that came before the activity was more powerful. Humphrey asked her students what the little light on their fingers symbolized. After some discussion, the class came to the conclusion that reading lights the path to your future.

Humphrey’s passion for reading flows into her students. She encourages them to hold reading in high regard, and reminds them that their reading journey is just beginning, and it’s fun.

“She is that teacher you would want your kid to have, because you know that they are going to be loved and cared for in the classroom,” Jewett said.

During the READBowl competition, students can be seen reading at lunch, and even during recess. The one thing that really makes her heart swell with pride is when she gets feedback from parents.

For Humphrey, that is more powerful than hearing from other teachers, because it means their love of reading has spilled over into their home life. “It has become a part of their daily rhythms,” she said.

Parents have sent her pictures showing the family reading together. She’s also gotten photos of students reading in the most unlikely places, like hanging upside down on monkey bars with a book in hand.

This is not the first time that Humphrey and her students have been in the spotlight. In 2020 and 2022, her third grade students were crowned “World Champions of Reading” during the foundation’s “READBowl” Global Reading Competition, in which more than 400,000 students have competed.

Humphrey doesn’t participate in READBowl for the competition, but for the joy she sees in her students’ faces when they begin to develop a love of reading, especially the ones who have a hard time with reading. “The children learn how to get lost in a book, and reading becomes magical,” she said. “For me, this is magical.”

Not only does Humphrey participate in READBowl, the annual free virtual reading challenge of Share the Magic Foundation, but she also serves on the organization’s Educator Advisory Panel.

Through her participation in the Foundation’s Read with Malcolm literacy programs, her students have increased their reading scores.

Overall, the third graders at Thanksgiving Elementary have shown tremendous growth in reading scores after READBowl. “Ninety-five percent of our kids met or exceeded growth,” Jewett said.

So far this year, the “Buffalo Bookworms” third grade team has read 798,438 minutes. Humphrey was honored during Mitchell’s Share the Magic Foundation’s Annual Gala and Fundraiser in Atlanta.

Partnering with Share The Magic Foundation and READBowl has done a lot more than just transform Humphrey’s students into readers. “My biggest thing, above all else, is for my students to believe in themselves and to believe they are capable.” she said.

For more information about Share The Magic Foundation, visit www. readwithmalcolm.com.