Jacquie Walters may be fairly new to the education field and to Peetz Junior High and High School, but the language arts teacher has already made quite an impact.
“Mrs. Walters is a tremendous asset to our staff. Her charismatic attitude and love of English language arts is infectious to our students. Our secondary students look forward to her class each day as she creates an inclusive classroom that supports students where they are that day,” said the Peetz School staff in their Crystal Apple Award nomination.
Originally from England, she moved to Sterling because it’s where her husband was born and raised. Walters earned a bachelor of honors in English from a university in England, finishing up the last semester in the United States. After that, she attended the University of Northern Colorado for one semester, then she applied for the job at Peetz and got it, so she left UNC and got her teaching license through Northeast Colorado BOCES.
Oddly enough it was a love of stationary that led her to pursue a teaching career.
“When I was little I used to play school because I used to love pens and I still do, far more than others would like me to,” Watlers said with a laugh. “Then, it was when I got older and I was in high school, I was about 12 or 13, I had just a really phenomenal English teacher. I always liked reading, loved reading, but she taught me that there was so much to be learned from books and that was it; that was what I decided I wanted to do. I wanted to change kids’ lives through books.”
She loves being at Peetz, her peers and the 7-12 grade students she gets to teach. Her favorite part is her students’ personalities. It may be a challenge sometimes, particularly with a ninth grade class made up of all boys, but the students and their teacher have earned each other’s respect and aren’t afraid to kid with one another and have fun.
“I love the kids I teach and have a lot of fun with them,” Walters said.
According to her nominees, while Walters has high expectations, they are coupled with empathy. That’s evident if you spend some time talking with her.
“I have, kids, but I tell my school kids, my students, I don’t care if you’re a C student and I don’t care if you’re an A student, as long as you’re trying your best I will be your biggest advocate, I will be your biggest cheerleader and I am,” Walters said.
If a student has done really well, she will make a fuss about them; she’ll have them stand up while she claps for them and make the rest of the class join in too.
“I feel that just because a student isn’t necessarily an A student, they shouldn’t be treated any different and get the recognition that any student should, and I do believe that if you’re an A student you should still get that recognition, you shouldn’t be made to feel any less just because you’ve got another A, ‘good for you,’ I will be your biggest cheerleader,” Walters said.
It’s also important to her that her students know that it takes practice to become good at something and there is no such thing as perfect.
“I teach my kids that it’s okay to fail, I’d rather they failed and learned something then didn’t do it and didn’t learn anything,” Walters said.
It’s not just her work with the students that her nominators say makes her a great asset to the school, but also her relationships with her coworkers.
“Her report with the staff and administration helps to build a positive culture in our school and community,” said the Peetz staff. “Although this is only her second year, she has proven to be as adaptable as a more experienced teacher.