(Editor’s note: The Augusta Press will feature each of the five finalists for Richmond County’s Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced at an Oct. 6 banquet.)
Martina Anderson, a finalist for Richmond County’s Teacher of the Year award, believes in constantly trying to combine media and education; for one of her latest activities, students had to convince invading aliens to not attack the United States.
Anderson was approached by a fourth-grade teacher, who was educating students about the Revolutionary War, and created a scenario where students had to make a PowerPoint presentation to defeat said invaders.
“What we did was culminate an activity where we … pretended aliens were coming to invade us, and we needed to convince them that they shouldn’t mess with the United States because we’re always able to defeat stronger enemies – like at the start of the Revolutionary War,” she said. “So, what they did was they used our database, Galileo, to research different events leading up to the Revolutionary War, the different battles of the Revolutionary War and the outcome of the Revolutionary War … then we had a presentation to the aliens so they would not destroy us.”
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Although Anderson taught in the classroom for many years, she felt she would better serve her community and students by passing on her technological expertise and assisting educators with incorporating innovative teaching alternatives.
“To be able to reach an entire school rather than a handful of students, as a media specialist, is very empowering,” she said.
She accomplishes her goal by currently working as a media specialist at McBean Elementary School where she assists teachers in planning and creating lessons that utilize technology for all grade levels.
“I try to help teachers incorporate hands-on, project-based education fused with technology use in a meaningful way,” she said. “That is my schtick; I love it and I think that is the most important thing that students need in today’s education field.”
In her 28th year of teaching at Richmond County, Anderson focuses on teaching students how to find books and do research, which she believes are vital foundational skills to achieve a better educational background for future middle and high school years.
“I want to help them know how to curate information and know what fake media versus not fake media is – that’s very important in today’s society,” she said.
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Anderson said she hopes students take away from her teaching how to avoid making things overly complicated, maintain a focus on the important aspects of one’s life and always use critical thinking skills. She believes every student deserves to be noticed, and every teacher should endeavor to make a difference in their lives.
“[Don’t] ignore any part of the child. Always be sure that you are reaching their social-emotional development; it’s imperative that each child feels seen, heard, loved and cared for,” she said. “Make sure that you’re reaching the whole child.
She said she thinks a successful staff is one that works together and keeps in close contact with each other.
“[Teachers should] work closely with everyone in your school – guidance counselors, social workers, healthcare workers. Everybody. Administrations, teachers, custodians – everybody,” she said.
After she reminisced about how her senior English teacher, Connie Clifford, allowed students more freedom and choices in the classroom with reading material, Anderson said she loved experiencing more creative choices and options within that subject.
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Inspired by her past teacher, Anderson also strives to make the education system better by constantly stressing the importance of project-based education where she feels students excel more.
“Throw away those worksheets; think outside the box. Be a little bit more creative,” she said. “At least incorporate some sort of lesson that’s outside the box to help the students.”
Upon the announcement of her finalist status for the Teacher of the Year award, Anderson said she felt extremely humbled.
“It’s just crazy; I never would’ve dreamed that this would happen,” she said. “Very humbling because there’s so many great teachers out there; so many great men and women who are trying so desperately to reach students and help to make them and society a better place.”
In five to ten years, Anderson hopes to either continue working as a media specialist or to be enjoying her retirement.
“I enjoy being a media specialist, so I’ll either be here or retired,” she said.
The winner of Richmond County’s Teacher of the Year award will be announced on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Augusta Marriott at The Convention Center.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
