“She’s truly been unbelievable for me,” said Sara Kennedy, a first-year third-grade teacher. “I don’t have any words that could describe how she has helped me out. She introduced me to this school and made me feel like a part of it.”
Vasek, the Temple ISD Teacher of the Year 2008-09, is an instructional coach who goes into classrooms at the school, working with students and other teachers. She also develops curriculum.
Nominations for the award came from first-year teachers, whom she mentors because of state requirements at the school.
“I knew I was nominated, but I didn’t expect to win,” said Vasek, who has been teaching for 25 years, 20 at Meridith-Dunbar. “It was a big surprise. I was very humbled by the nomination.”
It’s been a long time since Vasek was a student at Texas A&M University and undecided as to what she wanted to do for a living.
“I was pretty lucky,” she said. “I had this awesome counselor who wanted to know what I enjoyed doing, and I told her I liked math and liked helping kids, so she told me to go out and work with children.
“Now, I think I have the best job in the world,” she said. “Over the last few years I have been serving as a mentor, and helping the first-year teachers out. I love it.”
Vasek said she remembers what it was like to be a first-year teacher.
“So I try to give them as much guidance and support as I can,” she said. “I believe in the first-year teachers. This can be a really difficult job for them.”
Sherrie Walter, a first-grade teacher, also nominated Vasek for the award.
“I have so much respect for her,” Walter said. “She really goes above and beyond what she has to do in helping us out.
“She’s so encouraging, and gives us so much advice,” she said. “I don’t think she’s ever forgotten what it’s like to be a first-year teacher. I can call her at home and ask for advice at anytime.”
Heather Rejula, a third-grade teacher said she didn’t know how well she’d do without Vasek’s assistance.
“I really don’t know how successful I would’ve been this year without her assistance,” Rejula said. “She’s not only our mentor - she’s our greatest cheerleader. She always manages to find good, even in the worst situations.
“She seems to know about all the families with children here,” Rejula said. “She knows all of the student names, and she’s always full of new ideas when it comes to helping the kids.”
Walter mentioned how Vasek organized a math and science event for families at the school during the school year. “She’s always trying to find new ways to get the students encouraged and involved in learning,” she said.
