Last quarter, O. Henry staff members and parents nominated Kristina Shugarman as their 2024-2025 Campus Teacher of the Year. Kristina Shugarman joined the O. Henry family as a kindergarten teacher in August 2022. She is a proud RISD graduate, hailing as a Ram from Berkner High School.
Kristina was shocked and brought to tears as she accepted her nomination to represent O. Henry as the Campus Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Shugarman makes learning engaging for her students by creating immersive and engaging room transformations for her students. In prior years, she has always done three room transformations a year, but this year she and her team are surprising their students with a room transformation each month! By changing the classroom environment, students spark curiosity, excitement, and a sense of adventure. Whether they are a doctor performing addition surgery or a chef cooking meatball and spaghetti sight words, they are excited to learn, collaborate, and take ownership of their learning. What a memorable experience for them!
Mrs. Shugarman was inspired to become a teacher because of her first grade teacher, Mrs. Sidwebber. Her enthusiasm and love for learning made our classroom a place where I was excited to be every day. She also celebrated our accomplishments with so much warmth and encouragement which helped instill confidence in myself. I am thankful Mrs. Sidwebber showed me how a teacher’s influence can last a lifetime.
Mrs. Shugarman’s favorite classroom tradition is celebrating Read Across America Week. Teaching reading is my passion and I love any opportunity to instill a love for reading in my students. Throughout the week, we have guest readers read many Dr. Seuss books, students create their own rhymes, we make/taste green eggs and ham and students complete an opinion writing about it, and have a read-a-thon challenge throughout the week.
Mrs. Shugarman believes that the most rewarding part of teaching at OHE is that “we are a fairly small campus so the connections formed with students can be lasting and meaningful. Teachers, students, and parents tend to know each other well, which creates a strong sense of community and belonging.”
Mrs. Shugarman would like to leave this piece of advice for new teachers: “Build relationships with your students first! Get to know what they enjoy, what challenges they face, and what motivates them. Building trust and respect truly helps create a positive learning environment where students can grow socially, emotionally, and academically.”
Congratulations Mrs. Shugarman, we are grateful for all the experiences that you have and are giving your kindergarteners!
