MADISON, Ala. — This teacher we’re about to meet is all about the students and less about her. In fact, when we surprised her as Top Teacher, she made sure we knew it!
Her peers say she’s a team player, and a patient one, too! Meet this week’s Top Teacher from Columbia Elementary School, Dawn Estrada!
“I had a knack for it, apparently, and I got told that I needed to stop subbing and get in here full time, and give to these children the benefit of my time and my patience and my guidance.” said Estrada.
Estrada has worked twelve years as a paraprofessional in special education. “This is the world that I want to be in, and I want to be able to give to them what they deserve to grow and to prosper.”
Eight of those twelve years, Estrada has spent right here at Columbia Elementary School. “We're a team and I want to be an integral part of the team. So whatever I'm doing, I want to make sure I'm offsetting the role of the teacher so that she knows she's in good hands,” she said.
According to Estrada’s peers, she is a critical part of that team of educators. “She is known for showing up every day with a heart and a will to do whatever it takes for our students,” said Principal Miranda Bolden.
Her peers say she diligently pours into her students for success. “Ms. Dawn is able to work with one student or two students at a time to ensure that students are making progress,” said Madison City Schools Director of Special Education, Dr. Susan Zinkil.
For Estrada, it’s more than her commitment to her students and peers. “It makes me feel like I'm contributing to their well-being for the parents' sake, because I can't imagine being in the parent shoes of having to live with this for life. And so if we can offset that in the school setting on any level too, so the parents have a sense of well-being for their child here, that's what I'm going to give to them,” she said.
Do you know of a deserving teacher? Nominate them here!
{WEB EXTRA: Dawn Estrada surprised}
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