By Cathy Spaulding
Times Staff Writer
April 29, 2008 06:14 pm
—
Some students in Britton Nevitt’s algebra class don’t mind staying after class.
It’s just one way they can get a mathematic edge — especially on state mandated End of Instruction tests.
“She’s always willing to help,” Shofner said. “She let me stay after class every day this week.”
This willingness to help is one reason Nevitt, now in her fourth year at Fort Gibson High School, was named Fort Gibson’s Teacher of the Year.
“I think she’s a main reason we have such outstanding scores on our Algebra I EOI tests,” Fort Gibson School Superintendent Derald Glover said. “She prepares the students, and she does a great job working with teachers in the seventh and eighth grades to prepare students for the class.”
FGHS Principal Gary Sparks said Nevitt has “great rapport with the kids.”
“She can bring math to the kids’ level,” he said.
Nevitt, 44, could trace such rapport to her own high school days.
“I had friends who were struggling with math, and I always liked helping the other kids in high school,” Nevitt said.
Nevitt said she has wanted to be a teacher ever since she was young.
“I had several really good teachers who inspired me,” she said.
Two teachers stand out.
One was Howard Jayne, Nevitt’s history teacher at Muskogee High School.
“He taught me that learning can be fun and interesting, especially when the whole class is involved and engaged in the teaching process,” she said. “Mr. Jayne treated his students like people first, then students.”
Nevitt also praised her ninth-grade algebra teacher, Don Garvin, “who taught me how incredibly fun learning math can be.”
“He used to let me work examples on the board for other students who were having difficulties,” she said. “He always told us, ‘Go like 90, the Russians are catching up.’”
Nevitt said one highlight of her career was to end up teaching with Garvin and Jayne in Muskogee.
“It was a wonderful experience,” she said.
Nevitt has carried their example into her classroom.
“I strongly believe that in order to be an effective teacher, you have to focus on your students,” she said. “Get to know them as people. Let them know you care. Be a role model for them. When you get to know your students and engage them in the learning process, you will see the most success in your students, and you will receive your greatest reward as a teacher. When my classroom is active in learning it is like a community where we all work together towards a solution and it makes the learning process challenging and fun.”
Students acknowledge such effort.
Ninth-grader Courtney Pulliam said she appreciates “her helping me think.”
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