By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Kaleigh Wentworth goes that extra mile to show both her students and their families that they are loved.
Wentworth was nominated by Nicole Dopita, parent of one of Wentworth's third-grade students, for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month Award.
"Students love her because she is kind, loving, fun and cares about them. Parents love her because she makes them feel like their student is the only one in her classroom," Dopita said in her nomination.
"Ms. Wentworth gets to know every student in her class as a whole person," Dopita said."Kaleigh is able to see exactly what each child brings to the classroom, and her teaching methodology involves finding and using the children’s unique strengths to help them grow and thrive, as well as harnesses their personalities to overcome struggles."
Dopita said she involves not only the kids but also the parents in classroom learning by uploading pictures and videos throughout the day for parents to experience her teaching and the environment she creates.
Wentworth said she doesn't want children to miss out on any special experiences in class.
Wentworth exhibited this personal touch with Dopita's daughter, Emily. Wentworth personally delivered popcorn to Dopita's home when Emily was sick and missed the monthly popcorn Friday celebration. She told Dopita she was leaving her home and hitting another student’s lemonade stand.
Dopita called it a true testament of her integrity and dedication.
Wentworth was also nominated by Maia Gray.
"Ms. Wentworth takes a lot of time to figure out how each kid learns. She then takes that information and forms her learning around it, which is amazing," Gray said. "She is great role model for any child who wants to be a teacher. She cares for each one of her students as if they were her own."
Wentworth, 34, has only been an elementary school teacher for three years. A Fort Hays State University graduate, she worked at Early Childhood Connections before returning to college to earn her master's degree through Kansas State University in 2019.
Wentworth said she made the change to K-12 education because she wanted to have more of an impact on her students. Wentworth grew up in Hays and attended O'Loughlin as a student, and she said she remembers her second- and third-grade teachers well.
"I just enjoy working with kids and helping them learn and teaching them," she said.
Wentworth said she loves the silly things that come out of kids' mouths.
"I get a lot of joy out of the innocence that they bring and how brutally honest they can be without realizing," she said.
It was a challenging time to come back into education. Wentworth taught one semester before COVID hit. Just as she gets used to doing things in a certain way, a wrench gets thrown in, she said.
"My entire career has been trying to shuffle that, as well as the normal responsibilities of a teacher," Wentworth said.
However, Wentworth said COVID has not been her biggest challenge. She worries about the well being of her students.
"There are some kids who have it better on the home front than others," she said. "It was hard for me in the beginning, and it's still hard for me now, to mentally clock out.
"There are some kids that I worry if they're doing well at home. The personal aspect of that I enjoy can also be a double-edged sword and leave me worrying when I should be spending time with my family and relaxing."
Wentworth said she strives to build a positive education environment that feels like a family.
"We work very hard on building positive relationships," she said, "because I am a firm believer that you can't learn well in an environment you don't feel safe and loved in."
It goes beyond lemonade stands and personal popcorn deliveries. Wentworth said she knows her students and her families are struggling right now with the added strains of illness and COVID.
She recently took JD's Chicken chicken and noodle dinners to a student's family who was in quarantined.
"I hope it leaves a positive impact on kids so they do those kind things for people too, just to give the world a little more kindness," she said.
"I think that personal touch lets each kiddo know that I care, and I try to do that with everybody."
O'Loughlin uses a looping model, which means children have the same classroom teacher for two years. Wentworth said that model allows her to see children's growth.
"I was just grading their spelling and their writing and thinking where they have come from. I remember getting them in second grade to now," she said. "Sometimes I just stop and reflect over that with them. 'Look at how much you've grown. See, you know so much.'"