Dedicated to both the academic and social growth of her students at Farragut Intermediate School in Knoxville, Tennessee, Bobi King creates a calm and nurturing atmosphere that promotes high expectations for all. An accomplished and solid professional, King manages her classroom with aplomb, even playing soothing music during independent work time to foster a peaceful learning process.
King pre-tests, gauges progress via weekly assessments, and re-teaches lessons when necessary. Small-group activities and specially fashioned learning stations complement her lessons, which are differentiated to accommodate her students' needs. Parents are also an important component to King's classroom. She works with parent volunteers to coordinate the science lab and helps organize Muffins for Moms and Donuts for Dads. King is involved in facilitating the Lunch Bunch, sparked by special needs and mainstream students who gain from behavioral guidance. To ease the transition from one year to the next, she teaches summer school and hosts a summer preview to help incoming third-graders.
Students benefit from King's enthusiasm and instructional expertise. According to third-grade state test results from the 2011-2012 school year, 80 percent scored proficient or advanced in reading and 82 percent were proficient or advanced in math – performing above district and state averages.
As the third-grade lead teacher in a large school, King chaired the school social studies professional learning community (PLC) and participates on the school leadership team, school improvement plan, curriculum committee and mentor core team. She is a familiar face at the district level as well, where she presents, speaks to new teachers, and serves on the district social studies committee.
