Bethany Kuhl, third-grade teacher at Kramer Elementary School, is an educator who can “lovingly push, encourage and help each child grow as an individual,” according to a note from parent Alexandra Weikel. Weikel nominated Kuhl for the annual Harry and Virgina Teckman Excellence in Education Award, given by the Greater Oxford Community Foundation.
Kuhl was presented with the award at a Talawanda school board meeting last month.
“It’s such an honor, first of all, to be nominated by any of the parents,” Kuhl said. “I mean, they trust me with their babies, they’re pretty much their most prized possession in the world. That (the nomination) caught me off guard.”
On a Facebook post congratulating Kuhl, parents and peers left 15 comments full of praise. “So well deserved! An amazing teacher for two of my kids and an equally amazing coworker! Talawanda is lucky to have her,” Kramer teacher Chandra Ackley said.
Kuhl, who has been a teacher for 20 years, uses practices called “family circle” and “bucket filling,” to build classroom culture beyond a traditional curriculum. Each week, Kuhl and her third-graders build empathy through “family circle,” a practice encouraging students to share what is going on in their lives.
“I want my kids to feel safe to make mistakes, because you can’t learn unless you’re willing to make a mistake,” Kuhl said.
If a student shares, they place a block in the middle of the circle, trying as a classroom to build the tallest tower each week. Information shared during family circle stays within the classroom, but relates to accomplishments, family dynamics at home, sports, struggles, friendships and more.
“It gives me an inside look at what’s going on that you might not see at the surface level,” Kuhl said. “The biggest thing I love about it is that each of the kids recognize that other people are going through some really hard things.”
Additionally, Kuhl implements lessons about empathy and trust throughout the week, gauging how students may apply “family circle” to their relationships, personal growth and education.
“Instructional time is so valuable, but I would never take that (family circle) time away,” said Kuhl. “The family that we create gets us so much farther with our learning.”
At the beginning of each school year, Kuhl teaches a storybook called “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids,” based upon the idea that everyone carries an invisible bucket representing their mental and emotional well-being. When someone’s bucket feels full, they are happy and content. When that bucket is empty, they may feel sad or discouraged.
“Literally, when they (the foundation) called me, I was like, ‘my bucket is so full right now. I can’t even put it into words,’” said Kuhl.
The Teckman award came with $500 that Kuhl decided to use collectively with her third grade accomplishments during state testing season. Kuhl shared that she is a “very-goal oriented” teacher. The majority of funds will be used toward purchasing extra intervention activities for third-graders, including books and games that improve fluency skills. Kuhl explained that these “wish list” items are usually purchased out of her team’s own pocket.
The award was established 28 years ago by Charles and Joan Teckman to honor their educator parents, Foundation executive director Betsy Hope said. Each year, the foundation accepts nominations from the community for the Teckman award. Nominees may be anyone who plays an important role in the education of Talawanda students.
While most winners have been teachers like Kuhl, they don’t have to be. Past winners have included custodial staff, principals, librarians, members of the front office.
A committee of diverse community members in Oxford decide on a winner based upon the written nominations. Hope said the committee doesn’t aim to recognize the best educator in the district.
“That’s impossible to decide,” she said. “Every teacher is deserving of recognition.”
