St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal School Teacher Honored at Excellence in Education Awards

“I have always felt I was born to teach,” wrote our 2^nd-grade teacher Ellen Stanton in her application for Private School Teacher of the Year, award by Anne Arundel County each year.

She and the other semi-finalists and finalists, both public and private schools, were honored at a dinner on April 29 at the BWI Airport Marriott Hotel.

As far as St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School is concerned, Ellen is an “absolute gift,” in the words of our chair of the Board, Louise Knight.

Marcia Kokoski, Parents’ Association president recalled, “We made the decision to move our daughter to St. Martin’s for second grade. This is a decision that will positively affect the rest of her life…My husband and I feel so fortunate that not one but two of our children have had the privilege to spend their second-grade year with Mrs. Stanton. We only hope and pray that our youngest will be as fortunate as to benefit from her educational love and support.”

“Ellen has a legendary status at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field,” said Frank Sawyer, who speaks not only as headmaster but as a parent of a second-grader

In articulating her educational philosophy, Ellen wrote, “As I teach 2^nd graders, I keep in mind a saying I heard long ago: Focus on the student in front of you today and see him for who he is now….I know I’ve succeeded as a teacher when my student’s expression changes from one of confusion or uncertainty to one of insight and excitement.”

Second-grade students get excited doing many of the curriculum enhancements Ellen has introduced over the years. Life-size biographical figures populate the elementary hall each year. Ellen’s second-graders “travel” to the Galapagos Islands every year and bring back knowledge about the animals and plants on these islands that inspired Charles Darwin. They correlate what they learn about habitats and adaptions to the habitats and animals of the Chesapeake Bay.

Flights of fancy have their place, too, especially in the minds of second-graders. Ellen’s unit on Eric Carle’s Mixed-Up Chameleon produces some very strange animals, indeed.

Second- graders are always ready to help others, and Ellen places a great deal of emphasis on outreach, both to aid our sister school in Haiti and to assist people around us. This year, Ellen’s second-graders mobilized the whole school in a paper drive for Sarah’s House.

Ellen sees the role of a teacher today as the CEM of the classroom—Chief Executive Motivator. She sets high expectations for her students, and then fosters a safe, caring, and nurturing environment where they can take risks and grow in independence and leadership.