Chris Ralston
Position: ERR K-1 Teacher
School: Cloverdale Elementary School
School District: Bonneville Joint County School District
City, State: Ammon, ID
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Chris Ralston was nominated anonymously.
"Three words to describe Mr. Ralston are considerate, team player, and gratitude," said the nominator. "Mr. Ralston is always caring and considerate of how to help his students and what his colleagues need. He is a real team player and great at bouncing ideas around to develop a sense of synergy in the classroom...Mr. Ralston is always one of the first to note success and is open to discussing what went poorly and how he and our group could improve. As an ERR teacher of Kindergarten and 1st graders, he doesn't often see huge gains or the effects of his work. You can often find him cheering on the little gains and rewarding small progress. Still, every so often, we see that behavior change that finally sticks, that goal met in the student's education or success with his teaching team, and he is one of the first to cheer them on. His upbeat attitude and team spirit encourage us to keep trying repeatedly."
Chris is an exceptional educator and colleague. His dedication to his students and his willingness to support his fellow teachers truly sets him apart. Special education requires not only skill and knowledge but also an incredible amount of empathy and perseverance, and Chris embodies all of these qualities. His proactive attitude and commitment to continuous improvement are qualities that surely make a significant difference in his students’ lives and in his school community as a whole.
Chris has been great to work with. The care and concern he has for his students is top notch. Chris only wants the best for his students and will do anything in his power to ensure they are successful. He is constantly telling his staff how much he appreciates them. Chris truly is a life changer for several people. Thanks Chris for all you do for the students you serve!
I collaborated with Chris for three years and observed his unwavering commitment to his students. He is an exceptional educator who consistently strives to ensure his students succeed. Chris engages with those who have the most significant needs in the district, demonstrating remarkable patience and a focus on the positive aspects of every circumstance. His organizational skills and preparedness are always evident.
I have been so impressed by Chris as I’ve worked with him in his classroom. He cares about and goes above and beyond for his students and for his staff. In a very demanding field of work he is always reaching out to others to help make sure they are okay and is always willing to do the very best he can to make sure they have the help and support they need.
I have had the privilege of working along side Chris in the summer school program. I was consistently impressed by the respect and rapport he established with students and staff. Chris was willing to go above and beyond to ensure that his students were supported, engaged, and challenged. Chris absolutely loves his role as a teacher and it shows by his commitment to make learning fun and exciting. I hope to work along side him again.
Chris is always one of the first people to ask if you need help with something. Working with him also means that he will check in on you often to see if you need something from him and if there's anything else he can do to add to the classroom. He cares very much about his students and is constantly brainstorming about ways to help his students more and more. He is very open to ideas and feedback from those he works with and, as others have stated, is a great team player!
I have had the privilege of working with Chris for the last 4 years. He is a very hard working teacher. The pride he has in his students and the gains they make throughout the school year is so amazing. Chris always shows up prepared and is constantly thinking of different things to try to help his students grow and succeed. He is always dependable, has a great positive attitude and truly cares about his students.
I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with Chris Ralston for the past several years. I have watched him grow into an amazing teacher. He truly loves his students. I am impressed with Chris’s desire to always improve and become better at his job. Special Education has its challenges, but Chris always shows up with a positive attitude and faces those challenges head on. His students are lucky to have him as a teacher. He is truly an asset to our district.
I have known Chris for two years and I have had the opportunity to work in his classroom for the last year and a half. He is one of the hardest working teachers that I have ever worked with. He has been faced with incredible challenges in his time as an Extended Resource Room teacher but he has never let those challenges get the best of him. Chris is a great leader. He is consistently checking in with his staff to make sure that they feel heard and supported. He is always open to new ideas and willing to collaborate to find solutions to problems that arise. The students in our classroom have unique needs and challenges and he is excellent at finding ways for those students to succeed. I look up to Chris for his dedication and how he takes the time to listen to others without judgment. He always lets me know how much I am appreciated for what I do, and that is something that we could all use more of.
I’ve known Chris since he was newly hired as a teacher. He has a deep commitment for excellence with his students. He is dedicated in exploring new and better ways to educate each of his students individually and is delighted in their successes.
Chris’s commitment to teaching is evident by his inquisitive nature. He asks important questions; questions that have helped him build a solid foundation in his teaching skills and confidence in himself. As a result he has earned respect from his team of co-workers.
Chris’s deep care and concerns for his students fuel his desire to be the best that he can be. He’s a great man, a great teacher, and my friend.
I've only known Chris to be kind and passionate. He has a wonderful heart and loves to laugh. His laugh is infectious, too! He loves to connect with people and is especially kind to children, which should tell you everything you need to know! Wonderful friend
Chris has always been a hard worker, and when it comes to his students Chris is very quick to find opportunities for them all to grow. As an educator myself, I can see how much time and effort he is putting into making a difference to his students. I also will seek Chris out for advice for accommodations that I can try to use to help my own students if needed because I believe that Chris is very knowledgeable about special education and can be a great resource to general education teachers.
I am so glad someone nominated him so he can see the difference he has made in other peoples’ lives.
He's shown me courage and strength in hardships
Christopher Ralston is an exceptional teacher. His passion for education is inspiring. He brings enthusiasm and creativity into his classroom daily, which helps his students feel empowered to explore and grow. He truly cares for each student and goes above and beyond to ensure they feel valued, supported and understood. Christopher Ralston is truly deserving of this award.
Chris is not afraid to speak his mind or ask the hard questions. He’s challenged me and helped me grow and learn how to answer the hard questions. He’s tutored me in all my classes and has been an amazing mentor and role model for me. He’s been such a great friend who listens when I need it the most.
Chris is a great team player and colleague. He goes above and beyond to do what is best for his students. I have worked with Chris for two years and appreciate his dedication and thoughtfulness. Chris is an excellent communicator and takes time to understand others. He seeks out assistance and collaborates well when he is getting new resources and tools for his students. Working in an Extended Resource Room can be challenging, and Chris approaches each day with positivity.
I met Chris in Highschool and we instantly became best friends.He was there for me when my dad passed away,when we were just teenagers.And has had my back ever since.He has a huge heart and is always looking out for everyone around him.He's always looing for improvement in everything he does in life, especially with teaching.He would say he's lucky to have the chance to teach and help children.But the children are just as lucky to have him as a teacher.
Chris Ralston is a teacher that truely cares about his staff, coworkers and supervisors. He works extremely hard to provide a fun environment that allows kids to be safe, grow to their full potential and have fun while learning. Over the years I have developed a deep respect for Chris and his dedication to his students and the positive role model he shows for his students
Chris Ralston and I have been friends ever since we met in Elementary School. He’s one of the most selfless human beings I’ve ever met. He was always there for me as a kid and continues to be there for me well into adulthood. I know his commitment to his work as an educator is unmatched.
Chris is a team player and great to work with. When he has reached out for help. He has been very supportive of collaborating on ideas to help his students with their needs and is willing to make changes that are needed to avoid conflict or escalation in behaviors. He appreciates his staff and respects them. He communicates very well. Thank you for willing to always help.
I have never met anyone who has applied the concept of seeking first understand and then to be understood as well as Chris Ralston. my father always taught me that it is the messengers duty to make sure the correct message gets across correctly, it wasn’t until I met Chris that I understood what that meant. He never fails to seek clarification when necessary, and always make sure he did not offend and his messages understood. This is one of my favorite ways Chris leads his class. Watching Chris communicate has helped me become a more aware and responsive communicator.
No matter how hard life is outside of school, I know when I come to work I’ll be appreciated and valued. Often forgotten and overlooked himself in a workforce almost exclusively made up of women, Chris always makes sure his team mates know their efforts are valued. He never misses a teacher, principal, or anyone appreciation day. He is humble in recognizing shortcomings, yet diligent in trying again everyday to put in his best effort. He is an excellent example of leadership in his class, keeping track of what needs to get done, delegating what he can, and following up with good communication and understanding.
I have known Chris Ralston for approximately 25 years. Chris and our son, Alex, have been dear friends since they were in third grade.
During his growing up years, Chris was always kind, a trusted and loyal friend to Alex, and a joy to be around. My husband coached our children’s basketball teams and Chris was a member of our team for years. He was an asset to the team, was a very good sport, a team player and always had fun.
Watching Chris grow from that cute little boy into the wonderful young man he has become has been very special to us.
I was thrilled when Chris told me he was going into teaching. I knew he would be an amazing teacher, a great mentor to his students and a positive influence on those around him. It’s obvious that Chris genuinely loves his students and works very hard to help them succeed. He is their biggest cheerleader!
We love Chris very much. He has always been, and will always be, a big part of our family.
Chris is always the first one to offer to help someone out. His laugh is contagious. He is so dedicated to his students and making his classroom a successful environment for everyone. His dedication to his students and staff is unmatched. He has made a difference to countless students as well as their families.
Chris is one of the most conscientious teachers I know! He takes his teaching and his students seriously--and communicates successes/concerns to parents regularly. The classroom environment is fun, inclusive, completely tailored to the needs of his students. Talk about patience!! I am consistently amazed at what Mr. Ralston is able to turn into learning moments; his understanding/use of positive reinforcements; his dedication.
As a member of our school Team, Chris is always ready to help--or just listen, if need be. He even has had his own vacuum cleaner so custodians don't have to spend too much time on his room! I have relied on Chris to help me with Professional Development and problem-solving tasks. Friendship in a colleague is a great thing!
