Lavonn Foreman: Recognized teacher of the year
Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008
DECATUR ó Middle school teacher Lavonn Foreman was recognized as Walmart Teacher of the Year last month, but she has spent the past 27 years serving the Decatur School District behind the scenes.
Foreman is everywhere as she works tirelessly to help her students and the school. This summer she spent every weekend washing cars in the Hooperís Grocery Store parking lot to raise money for the school, and she was at the front of the fundraising efforts when the Decatur School was in trouble.
Foreman can be found at every game in every sport and helping in any way she can. She plants flowers around the school grounds with her students or tutors a student after school.
Foreman said working with kids makes her feel young and keeps her full of energy. A graduate of Decatur High School herself, Foreman went on to the Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in education.
Her interest in teaching started much earlier. As the oldest girl among five siblings and many cousins, Foreman enjoyed playing teacher and was always in charge of the kids at family gatherings.
During Foremanís senior year in high school, she helped her future father-in-law and high school counselor grade tests and talk to students.
ì It started then, î she said. Her first two jobs were working with children at summer reading programs, and her teachers also influenced her own decision to become a teacher.
ì I always loved my teachers. My lower-grade elementary teachers are some of the people who stand out in my life, î Foreman said.
Foreman said she wants her students to learn that education is a lifelong process and to leave her classes ready to survive.
ì I want them to grow up to be a viable source in the community, î she said.
Foreman said the kids inspire her to keep learning and to improve herself and to keep constantly adjusting her teaching methods.
In addition to being a teacher, Foreman is a wife and mother. She still finds the time to put in many extra hours planning lessons, grading papers and doing all sorts of tasks.
ì You never have enough time in middle school classes, î Foreman said. She tries to sit down with students and give them 20 or 30 minutes of extra help with their school work whether itís after school, during her prep time or on the bus on the way to a ball game.
As an activity supervisor, Foreman goes to all the ball games to help watch out for the kids and to keep things organized. She is trained in first aid and CPR, and if a student gets hurt at an away game, she goes to the hospital with them until their parents get there.
She also takes care of the referees, the cash box, finds gate workers and keeps books and records for the teams.
ì I do whatever needs to be done, î she said.
Foreman was nominated for the teacher of the year award by Doyne Rogers, mother of the Decatur Middle School secretary Paula Alsip. The school received a $ 1, 000 grant to be used on a project of Foremanís choice, and she received a $ 100 gift card to buy supplies for her classroom.
ì I canít think of anyone who deserves it more, î principal Tommy Baker said.
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