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Shaffer honored as Innovative Teacher of the Year
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Poland Middle School eighth-grade teacher Haley Shaffer was recently honored with a title as "Innovative Teacher of the Year" by the Eastern Ohio P-16 Excellence in Education organization. Shaffer was recognized for her use of blogs in heightening her students reading and writing skills. On Oct. 12, Shaffer relaxed in her classroom library.
By SARAH FOOR
On Oct. 13, the Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership for Education gathered at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center to honor the educational achievements of local school districts and unique educators from around the Valley.
Haley Shaffer, who teaches eighth grade at Poland Middle School, was honored during the proceedings as the area’s innovative teacher of the year. In her English and Reading in the 21st century classes, Shaffer uses a mix of reading, writing and technology to help her students become successful in our new connected world.
“My approach is to make assignments authentic, giving the students’ writing a real audience and a purpose for what they’re doing. I make sure to teach them that everything they do in this classroom goes far beyond me,” Shaffer explained of her teaching.
Shaffer gave her students an audience by blogging and inviting her students to post their assignments, writing and discussions for their classmates and the world to see.
“I’ve always found that the writing is different when I’m the only one who is going to see it — they take less risks and they’re less motivated to do it. With the blogging, the students are far more conscientious about their content and the writing has improved exponentially. It’s truly amazing,” Shaffer said.
By adding a social media feature to her classroom, Shaffer has found her students often go beyond their assignments and continue their discussions and writings. Shaffer also has her own extensive library of young adult books in her classroom that her students can use outside of school work.
Although Shaffer’s innovative teacher prize is a great honor, she said it will not let her rest on her laurels.
“I am very lucky, because my co-workers and my students are always supporting and pushing each other, and me, to do better. I can freely admit that there is a lot that I don’t know. When my students help me explore a new aspect of a website or a fellow teacher helps me investigate a new educational tool, it really benefits everyone,” the teacher shared.