This week, the Antioch Unified School District announced that Jacey Renfroe, a 5th grade teacher at Marsh Elementary School, is the Districts 2016-17 Teacher of the Year.
Renfroe has been with the District for 11-years and even started the “Running Club” with fellow teachers Brian Eyer and Shelly Werner four-years ago. The club now has over 120-students this school year.
According to Superintendent Stephanie Anello, Renfroe is the site-testing coordinator in charge of all SBAC and common assessment duties as such, she provides teachers with ongoing assessment data about how their students are performing so that they can customize their teaching to meet individual student needs. She also coordinates the after-school release and pick-up supervision and assists in ensuring students are safe and picked up in an orderly fashion every day after school.
Here is a written statement by Marsh Elementary School Principal Crystal Berry:
Fifth Grade teacher and 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year, Jacey Renfroe, is an integral part of the Marsh community who is well respected by students, staff, and families. She is knowledgeable about the Common Core State Standards and effectively plans engaging lessons to facilitate student understanding of the subject matter. She also uses a variety of instructional materials, active student participation strategies, and technology to engross students in the learning process and meet the needs of all learners.
Miss Renfroe has a structured, welcoming, class environment that fosters autonomy, social, and academic development. She has high expectations that students rise to. They are excited and eager to come to school. Evidence of this is shown through Marsh’s attendance data that ranks Miss Renfroe’s class as having one of the highest attendance rates throughout the school year. Students are given ample opportunities to share their ideas. They often work collaboratively with partners or in small groups where they are given roles and responsibilities as well as encouraged to engage in productive interactions to show what they are learning. Additionally, Miss Renfroe involves students in monitoring their learning by sharing assessment results with them and setting goals for continuous growth.
Along with being a responsible, reliable, and dedicated teacher, Miss Renfroe is also a team player who is actively involved in many school events and initiatives. She has served on the school’s leadership team, taken on the role of monitoring and maintaining the computer labs as well as assisting staff with technology needs, serves as our site’s PBIS Team Leader, and is also the District Assessment Leader (DAL). She spearheads Marsh’s State Float Parade for our fifth graders each spring. Miss Renfroe is also heavily involved in our school’s Running Club that occurs on Thursdays after school and participates in the Holiday Fun Run hosted by the Kiwanis Club each December.
A quote by William A. Ward says, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” It’s truly a pleasure to have a great teacher like Miss Renfroe at Marsh to make a lasting difference in the lives of our youth.
Anello also added how dedicated Renfroe is.
“Jacey is incredibly dedicated to her Marsh students and their families. Staff members report that Jacey is always willing to go the extra mile for both her students and her colleagues,” explained Anello. “She is incredibly innovative in her teaching style and, as such, students can’t wait to get to class and often don’t want to leave once the bell rings. She is a teacher every student remembers fondly.”
