Students walking into Mrs. Newsome’s Spanish classroom know that they are in for more than verb charts and vocabulary lists. This month, Hughson High School celebrates her as Teacher of the Month, a recognition she is more than deserving of.
Known for her warm personality, Mrs. Newsome has always been a standout on campus. Whether she’s leading a fun activity in Spanish or bringing cultural traditions into the room with food, music, or mini-history lessons, her students would agree she has a talent for making the difficulty of learning a new language a bit easier.
When asked what she believed the most important qualities a high school teacher can have are, Mrs. Newsome answered, “Patience, kindness, empathy, and structure. A lot of kids need it, and we all need to know what our expectations are so that we can meet and often exceed those expectations.” Mrs. Newsome’s dedication to her students is admirable, and that dedication extends beyond the classroom.
According to Mrs. Newsome, “As a teacher, I think my greatest strength is being compassionate. I like to meet the kids where they’re at. And my greatest weakness… I don’t know. I don’t think giving a lot of chances is a weakness. Being too kind is not a weakness. So, we’re gonna go with grading. It’s hard to assess and put a value on something.”
With her enthusiasm, bubbly personality, and commitment to the success of her students, it’s no surprise that Mrs. Newsome is this month’s honoree. Congratulations!
