Video Gallery

Taffy Clark - 2023 Barnes Elementary Teacher of the Year

Go to Video Gallery Added Feb 17, 2023 •

Copy this URL:
Embed code:	<iframe class="edlio-embed-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="360" src="//barnes.owassops.org/apps/embed/?v=351132" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Change dimensions

Go HD

Taffy Clark - 2023 Barnes Elementary Teacher of the Year

Show Transcript

My name is Taffy Clark. I first came to Barnes Elementary in Owasso Public Schools in 2010 as a kindergarten assistant. After a great year of that opportunity I decided to go back to college and get my degree in my Bachelors of Education so I began teaching here second grade in 2016. One of the things that brings me the most joy is the love and affection my students have for me and that I reciprocate. We're not just I'm not a teacher to them. They're my kids. I call them my kids. Once you're in my class I tell him you're my kids so I have kids all over Owasso and I see them all the time but the teaching part of it is, I love how engaged they are with the activities we do and how they're totally invested and I just think it's really important that I show up in that same way match their energy in and I'm totally invested too cuz they deserve it. I mean they're just amazing. Teaching is non-stop. There's no end to my day there's no beginning to my day. I wake up thinking about teaching maybe it's cuz I'm an empty nester now and my kids are all at college and I'm not as distracted but I do I am constantly thinking about what am I bringing the table today, what do what are my goals for the students, what are my goals for their families. cuz teaching is not just about students I think parent education and our involvement is a really crucial part of what makes a child's educational journey successful. So being a teacher at Owasso Public Schools on a personal note, it was it's just been a huge victory for my life that I was able to get into a school district that I just have so much respect and admiration for I meant to be able to teach where my children went to school and to teach with Incredible Educators that taught my children. It's not just being able to teach here and be successful it's not about just what I do what I bring my classroom. Its about the support, the fostering of autonomy in our classroom yet still lots of rigor for standards and everything that's really important also my principal and assistant principal are the most supportive people that I could have ever hoped for and to help get me through all of it and guide me. I need my name is Taffy Clark and I am in Owasso Ram.

Video Gallery

Taffy Clark - 2023 Barnes Elementary Teacher of the Year

Popular Videos