To me, school is a dreadful eight hours, but one class made one hour more exciting. For me, that was Mrs. Fricker’s seventh grade social studies class. There’s no denying she was the most passionate teacher who loved what she did. Social studies to me was boring, not interesting, and definitely not my favorite. But Mrs. Fricker flipped a switch in me that made me want to learn more about the past.
Throughout the year, we did many projects that really connected to the subject we were learning. Ask anyone from North Shore and they will say the Ellis island project was their favorite. We got to simulate what it was like as an immigrant going through Ellis island. Some passed through to New York, and some didn’t. She created a learning environment that was relatable to everyone.
Mrs. Fricker wasn't just my social studies teacher, she was my homeroom teacher as well. That means I connected with her on a whole different level, and got to talk to her about things I normally wouldn’t talk to any other teacher about. She was there for me, and any other student who needed help to. She would always have a smile on her face no matter what day it was.
Each week she put classmates’ names on the board and we had to write compliments about them. When it was my week, I was nervous, but in the end, it made me feel good about myself. A few compliments go a long way. Mrs. Fricker saw the best in students and that’s a quality every teacher should have.
When eighth grade ended, my mom passed away. Mrs. Fricker knew my mom from Jazzercise (a fitness class) and came to the funeral. She wrote me a really nice card and was there for my family. Even though she was my teacher, she supported me through the toughest time in my life.
Mrs. Fricker deserves educator of the year because she strives at what she does and helps out anyone who's struggling. She truly is one of a kind.