UIW Teaching Graduate Wins State 和 National Awards
艾伦Romious Honored as Clinical/Student Teacher of the Year
圣安东尼奥 – 2023年9月28日 – “When I found out I won these two awards, it was actually very surreal. It’s one of those things that you apply for, but never actually expect to win.”
It may not have been what anyone expected when 艾伦Romious, a recent UIW 德利本教育学院 graduate, was nominated for both the 2022-2023 Texas Clinical Teacher of the Year award 和 the 2022-2023 KDP/ATE National Student Teacher of the Year award, but Romious deservingly was selected as the recipient of both.
“It’s very easy to doubt yourself when you are a student teacher, so it was really validating to know that, 不止一个, but two separate organizations thought I was doing a good enough job to be recognized,罗米乌斯说.
“Making the state teacher of the year is fabulous 和 we are very, very proud,” says Dr. Denise Staudt, dean of the UIW 德利本教育学院. “But to have the state 和 the national, it is very, very unusual 和 we are so proud of her. We knew she was a good teacher, but now she is being recognized for it.”
Winning these two awards is not the first time Romious has done the unexpected. After all, you could say teaching has come about as a second career. Romious worked in the field of physical therapy for more than ten years before deciding to take a new path. That’s when she found her way to the 道成肉身的大学 和 the 德利本教育学院.
“There were a lot of things I enjoyed about physical therapy, but I felt it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,罗米乌斯解释道. “I’ve always loved English Language Arts 和 school in general. So that’s what drew me to becoming an English teacher.”
It’s also not the first time a UIW 德利本教育学院 graduate has been honored as the Clinical Teacher of the Year on the state level. 事实上是这样的, this is the third year in a row that a UIW alum has been chosen to receive the honor.
“That says all kinds of things about our program,” says Staudt. “我们有很棒的学生. 我们有很棒的教员. For them to be honored as state student teachers of the year three years in a row? You just don’t find many universities who can do that.”
“I think one of the huge advantages of UIW is because it is a smaller university, 你会认识你所有的教授,Romious回忆道. “这是一个很好的环境. You really get to feel like all your professors are invested in your success.”
Representatives from the University recently honored Romious for her accomplishment by visiting her class at Br和eis High School. But the real awards will come later when Romious is honored during an October event for her accomplishment on the state level 和 during a November event in St. Louis when she receives her national award. Romious says she is looking forward to being able to thank everyone during those events who have been a part of her journey.
“For those who helped me along the way, there are not enough words to describe my gratitude,罗米乌斯说. “I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people throughout my entire student teaching journey. From the entire 德利本教育学院 staff, 布兰代斯高中的教职员工, 致我的恩师, Bonnie Middleton 和 Field Supervisor, 泰瑞Chidgey, 和, 当然, 我的家人. Everyone has been so patient, kind, encouraging 和 supportive. I could go on 和 on about the extra time 和 effort each one of these individuals has invested in me to help me be successful. I can’t imagine a better environment for me to begin my career as a new teacher than UIW 和 Br和eis.”
And while Romious is well aware that her accomplishment in winning these two awards in the same year is rare, she says her path to achieve such accolades can certainly be replicated. And that is the lesson she hopes her students at Br和eis will take away from this achievement.
“给我的学生, I hope they learn that you don’t have to be perfect in what you do, but if you try your best 和 work hard, 人们会注意到的,Romious总结道. “I never expected to be nominated for these awards, 但如果你每天都来, with a good attitude 和 consistent work ethic, 好事会发生在你身上.”
媒体联络: Michael Valdes, Media 和 Public Relations Manager, Office of Communications & Br和 Marketing, (210) 829-6001, (210) 422-4052 or 迈克尔.valdes@uiwtx.edu