Fifth-grade teacher Tia Cade has 22 years in education
Tia Cade has been honored as teacher of the year for Whitman Elementary School, as well as the district teacher of the year.
Cade, a fifth-grade teacher, has been teaching for 22 years. She’s been in the Washington Township School District for 17 years and is finishing up her fourth year at Whitman. As an elementary school teacher, she specializes in math and language arts.
“I love math,” Cade said. “My principal and administrators like me in language arts literacy because I function well with the students there.”
This year, Cade has two sections of reading, two sections of writing and one section of math.
Many teachers can remember a moment from their time as a student as a inspiration to become a teacher.
“I had a math teacher named James McElroy,” Cade noted. “He made math fun and explained it in ways that made it easy. He would push kids to do their best but make them feel confident at the same time. I wanted to be like him, I wanted to make students feel loved and supported.”
Cade acknowledged there are many teachers who give their all, and they deserve the award just as much as she does. She is grateful to be recognized, not only as the teacher of the year at Whitman, but as the district teacher of the year.
“It is a tremendous honor,” Cade said. “Nobody realizes the hours teachers put in outside of normal school hours. I would love to see all teachers bestowed with the same honor.”
Cade is a member of the Language Arts Literacy Committee, a mentor to first-year teachers and a trainer in the Olweus anti-bullying program known as “Township Tuesday”.
Cade recalled the day she found out she won teacher of the year at Whitman. There was supposed to be a workshop that afternoon, but the principal created a ruse to keep her there. “The principal was making announcements and it sounded funny, like it was a recording.” As it turns out, it was a recording because the principal was outside her door and rushed in with flowers to congratulate her.
Once she was awarded teacher of the year, Cade could begin the application process to be chosen the district teacher of the year. The application consisted of her resume, essays and a letter from her principal.
One of the essays was on her teaching style. In the essay, Cade said, “No matter what the circumstances, excellent teachers find a way to ensure every one of their students grow both academically and socially. First-rate teachers continue to grow each day themselves; always striving to do their jobs better than they did the day before. Outstanding teachers inspire their students to be the best they can be both in and away from school. Exceptional teachers show their students they care about them.”
She went on to quote her evaluator, who said, “Mrs. Cade goes over and beyond the necessary actions to ensure that each student views the learning community as a safe environment, where they feel respected and special.”
She went on to say that she created that setting for the benefit of the students assigned to her care.
As the district teacher of the year Cade was in the running for county teacher of the year where she was one of the four finalists.
