COMM U N I T Y
Dawn Thrailkill
T
eaching offers plenty of opportunities to pay it forward. It’s a cherished part of the profession for Dawn Thrailkill, orchestra director at Alcott Middle School.
“I had incredible teachers who fostered within me a love for education,” Thrailkill said. “I chose to teach orchestra because being a part of a musical group brought me joy, creativity, discipline and lasting friendships. Teaching has given me the opportunity to foster those same characteristics in young people.” Thrailkill grew up in Norman public schools and has been witness to the growth of the music program firsthand.
“My family moved to Norman when I was in fourth grade. When I began my own musical training, the Norman string program was in its infancy and over the years I have witnessed it grow into one of the most respected
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
string programs in the state.”
“After 28 wonderful years (teaching), I had the opportunity to teach at Alcott Middle School. It feels like I have come full circle!”
Today, Thrailkill teaches four different grade levels, and travels to other schools to teach with other Norman orchestra colleagues. Her intense schedule leaves little downtime.
“Teaching 120 students in two to three buildings each day requires a lot of juggling and is often organized chaos. My 50-minute planning time is filled with countless tasks that need to be done to make class time go smoothly and productively.”
ative and spontaneous. I enjoy getting to see them grow personally and musically over the four years I have them in class.”
Thrailkill was recently honored as Alcott’s Teacher of the Year, a high point in a career she feels called to be in.
“Middle school students are never predictable. The kids are clever, cre-
“I feel honored to have been selected,” Thrailkill said. “I wish everyone could see behind the scenes to see how hard teachers work to reach every student, and how they give so much of their time, resources and hearts. I am very proud to be a teacher!” – BSM
All these choices are guided by the classroom community Spears fosters. “My role as a teacher is to facilitate their learning,” Spears said. “Questions are encouraged, and sometimes they lead to a better lesson than I had planned. I greet my students at the door with a hug or high-five and the day ends the same way it began, with a hug or high-five. It’s important that my students feel loved, so they feel safe enough to learn.” But, there are times when life’s circumstances seep into the classroom. “I’ve had students who’ve lost a parent, students who lose their housing, students whose parents are going through a divorce… my trauma-exposed students are the ones that stick with me year after year. They are the ones that remind me that my career is also my mission field. I get to be the calm during someone else’s storm.”
Spears credits the Norman community for many of the successes she has experienced in the classroom. “I feel extremely proud to live and work in Norman where education is held to a high standard. We are able to provide our students with the best because our community approves bonds and outwardly supports the educators in our town.” Spears was selected by her colleagues as Eisenhower’s Teacher of the Year. – BSM
But all those tasks lead to what Thrailkill is really focused on achieving: student growth.
Teaching Norman
Skye Spears
I
t might seem like math and literacy should be top priorities for a fourth-grade teacher. But for Skye Spears, those academics skills are just part of her educational agenda for the students in her class at Eisenhower Elementary. She wants her students to have an active voice in their educational journey. “It’s important for students to have a voice and a choice,” Spears said. From the books they read to the seats they sit in each day, it’s all up to her students. “Every morning they get to choose where they sit … and they take ownership in their spot. I have flexible seating, so some students are on yoga balls, a wobble stool, balance boards, desk chairs or regular seats. During small group reading, we read authentic literature and the students vote on which book they want to read together.”
30 | March 2020
