Katherine Bobby, who teaches third grade at Eagle View Elementary in Somerset, Pennsylvania, knows that forging bonds with parents is an essential ingredient for student success. She concentrates on building a strong home-school connection with events like the popular Painting Party, where more than 300 parents come to school to create art together. Families and students enjoy the Dr. Seuss Night, STEM Night, Halloween Dance and 21st-Century Community Learning Center events Bobby helps to organize. She carries her enthusiasm for creating a nurturing school culture to her work on the district’s planning team, which brings together a dozen teachers to enact Somerset’s vision of delivering meaningful learning within a caring educational community. Students respond to Bobby’s energy and passion: 100% of her students typically reach proficient or advanced levels on ELA assessments.
Bobby has taken the lead at Eagle View in aligning the ELA curriculum with Pennsylvania’s Core Standards, making changes based on annual data and benchmarks. She takes a holistic approach to teaching and knows each child’s home situation, strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Bobby, who taught special education in the Somerset Area School District before moving to a general classroom, creates a warm, supportive atmosphere where each student has a voice. Kindness takes center stage: Bobby’s popular Do One Thing wall highlights things students have done to improve others’ quality of life in school, home or community.
At Eagle View, Bobby leads professional development, contributes to professional learning communities, serves on the ELA committee, designed a framework for peer observations, and mentors both new and student teachers in special education and ELA. She had a major role in developing the school’s elementary standards-based report cards. As part of the Sunshine Committee, Bobby takes a lead role in creating high morale and a positive culture for staff. She organizes school food drives for a local food pantry and is active in her church. Bobby is known as an innovative leader who inspires students and staff to be better and reach for the stars.
Bobby earned a bachelor’s in elementary and special education in 2005 from St. Francis University.
Press release: Katherine Bobby enlists parents, engages students, earns $25,000 Milken Educator Award
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