The Peoria Regional Office of Education Spotlight Educator for November is Mrs. Michelle Henderson from PPS's Northmoor Primary School!
The community member who nominated Mrs. Henderson stated that “Mrs. Henderson has the exact right balance of nurturing vs. high expectations. She’s had one of my children in the past and has one now. She sees children’s potential and helps them to gain confidence to work hard to reach it. She’s kind, empathic, hard-working, fun, and incredibly skilled. She currently has my daughter who has a regimented medication schedule (along with other children with a variety of other needs) and she is always on top of it. She goes above and beyond to be sure her children are set up for success. She makes parents feel like part of a team and empowers us to empower our children. I can’t speak highly enough about Mrs. Henderson.."
When asked about what it means to be an educator, Mrs. Henderson replied "As an educator I’m a role model and an influence in my students’ lives. My goal is to ensure that all of my students are engaged in each lesson and they are working to the best of their abilities through a variety of learning styles. Education should be an equal opportunity for everyone to succeed. As an educator, I want to provide a safe haven and a positive, happy, and warm environment for my students to thrive no matter what background they come from. I also strive to have a partnership with families and to always keep the lines of communication open. Being an educator is being a lifelong learner." Congratulations, Mrs. Henderson! Thank you for all you do for the field of education.