Mary Sagert
Position: Kindergarten Teacher
School: Stoddard Elementary School
School District: Anaheim Elementary School District
City, State: Anaheim, CA
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Mary Sagert was nominated by her principal, Dale Hillyer.
Ms. Sagert is that dream of an educator that is always pushing herself and others to grow. She believes in the job she does and knows how important it is for her to do the best possible job so the students can have a level playing field as they advance through their school. She is a site leader and district leader in many ways. She is her school's Project Lead the Way Lead teacher and trained her staff on the science curriculum and keeps them abreast of new changes. Even though she has kids of her own at home, she has spent days away at conferences or trainings to further develop the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) program at Stoddard. She participates on the leadership team at Stoddard and always comes back to what is best for our students even if it means more or different work for her and her peers. She has participated on several district committees as the "Kinder" expert. She recently piloted the new curriculum over the course of the year.
"Truly, Mary is a leader in all aspects of her job at the school site and district," Hillyer said. "Several years back when we were discussing our transition to a STEAM Academy at Stoddard, she was one of the first teachers to take the reins and lead the conversations. She knew how important it is for our students to have this background and the value it would add to our school." Stoddard was one of the first STEAM Academies in the Anaheim area and now there are many. Mary was on the cutting edge and knew it would make a difference. This meant she needed to freshen up some skills and jumped in ready. She recently recieved her Leading Edge Certification and is abreast of the newest technology and how to best use it in the classroom. Mary continues to model for her peers what it is like to be a professional and how to continually grow and improve. She is open about the struggles of being a great educator and how to overcome them. She knows how to persevere no matter how long she has been teaching.
With Mary's leadership in Kindergarten, the students at Stoddard constantly are one of the highest achieving student groups in the district. She constantly pours over the data in her class and her other two peers' classes to make sure they are meeting the academic needs of the students. Stoddard has a high poverty and English learner population and Mary is always working on how to best integrate and connect the curriculum so students are practicing academic language all day. This is part of the reason why Stoddard Kinder students are some of the best performing in the district.
"Whenever I walk into Mary's classroom it is calm and inviting. She does this by being nurturing and compassionate but also highly engaging," Hillyer said. "Her students and parents love Mrs. Sagert. She knows how difficult it is as a parent to send their 5 year old to school to a stranger. She makes this transition as smooth as possible. Mary is so caring and nurturing that she often is the one to speak up and take on a new or more challenging student. Stoddard has many mainstreamed autistic students and she has a true knack for working with these students. She is supportive in ways that makes students with autism successful. She gives them schedules and monitors them for frustration. She allows the students to have short time outs to recover in her room all while still teaching the other 28 students.
This past year, Stoddard had a student that was really struggling with academics and behavior. Mary volunteered to take this student on. Within the first hour, she had him participating in a group activity and smiling. The year finished very prosperously for him and he truly loved coming to school and seeing Mrs. Sagert.
"There is so much to say about Mary Sagert in that she is a true professional and we at Stoddard are blessed to have her here. She is positive and flexible. She has a growth mindset and challenges her peers to have the same. She leads through actions and voice when needed at both the school and the district," Hillyer said. "She is a leader of our STEAM program and no matter how difficult it is to teach computer programming at a kinder level, she does it willingly, because she knows how important it is to the students. Her ethics are set very high. She never talks about students in a negative manner and doesn't allow others to do so, either. She is a LifeChanger and she comes to Stoddard everyday ready to be the difference in the students she serves and the community in which she works."
I think that Mrs.Sagert is a wonderful teacher, she changes kids life. I know that she is going o still be a great teacher.
Mis.Sagert is a life changer. She helps kids learn more until they understand.Even thou I wusent in her class I know she is great.
Mrs Sagert thank you for teaching everything you could . You might not remember me but i remember you from the bottom of my heart. You were one of the best teachers I ever had. Your an amazing teacher who is now teaching my brother.
Mrs. Sagert is an amazing teacher, and her students are lucky to have her.
I really think you are the perfect teacher in our school, but I don't think you are just any teacher. You are a teacher that wants kids to learn help us realize that our life can change within our action. I just wanted you to keep going no matter what's in your way. You are so amazing teacher I had ever seen, heard and got in our school.
Mary is an amazing teacher! Every time I see her with students they are engaged, they are learning, and they are held to a very high standard. Not to mention they are having a great time.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mary since she started teaching at Stoddard, and I am also lucky to call her my friend. She is one of those amazing teachers who is always smiling and her positive attitude is infectious. She is always there to lend a hand, even when her plate is full. (And...as a parent of 3...her plate is always full.) What I love about her is that she always seems to infuse a sense of fun into her classroom, while innovating new teaching techniques. She also doesn't hesitate to pilot new programs or to further her professional development.(She's a busy lady!) As a kinder teacher, Mary is that warm welcome students need as they start their education. She is truly a LifeChanger. I heart her!
By reputation, Mary exemplifies positivity and perserverance. Her principal has truly chosen the right person to nominate for this award. Every student who has passed through her doors has been blessed and will be a better person for having the classroom experience she provides!
As a school psychologist, I have had the pleasure of working with Mary over the past two years. In that time, she has had some very challenging students. Her calm demeanor, patience, and empathy have provided an environment that these students require in order to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Her positive attitude is contagious and her students are lucky to have her!
Mary is all that an educator should be, and her students are blessed for knowing her.
Although I've never worked at the same school site as Mary, I've had opportunity to work with her on a few projects and train with her. I've always known Mary to be positive, and she sets a high standard for herself as well as her students. Mary is a good example of what it means to be a true professional, and life long learner.
Although I have never had the pleasure of working with Mary, I can truly say that I am inspired by the educator and loving teacher that she is. My role, as a Digital Learning Coach, is to help teachers infuse technology into their classrooms at a level that they are comfortable with. While everybody has different comfort levels with educational technology, I am always inspired by the work that Mary does with exposing her kindergarten students to 21st-century skills. She does an amazing job at tapping into the potential of all of her students, while offering them opportunities to find their own interests and be the best scholars that they can be. It is due to her caring nature, love of learning, and dedication to her students, that I believe she is an exemplar of life changer of the year.
I have had the pleasure of watching Mary grow from a student teacher to the amazing teacher she is today! Mary is a true leader and demonstrates this everyday in her classroom. Her ability to teach children with special needs is admirable. Mary is an asset to our school as well as the entire teaching profession!
I loved having Mary's students in my class for music each week this past year (my first year at Stoddard)! I learn so much from the teachers I work alongside with their classes and I am grateful to have learned from Mary that compassion, diligence, and high expectations of learning are the cornerstones to students being excited and willing to learn and engage!
Kudos to Mrs. Sagert for being a superstar teacher and life changer for so many people - adults and kids alike!
I have worked twice in my career with Mary Sagert. Both times as the vice principal at her site. Some words that come to mind are consistent and compassionate. Mary maintains high expectations for all students and provides that extra love and support to students that can often show their needs in the most undesirable ways. I have seen students flourish under her guidance. She is relentlessly positive and caring. She has that kind of quiet strength that is a rare, and much needed, character trait in today's world. Kudos to Mary on her nomination!
Although I have never had the opportunity to work with Mary, I have the utmost respect for what she has accomplished in her classroom and with her students. I have only heard amazing things about her and her teaching from her colleagues throughout the district. I am sure that she is changing many lives in a very positive manner.
As a Curriculum Coach who spent most of her classroom teacher years in upper grades, I am always impressed with the patience, perseverance, and energy kindergarten teachers possess. Mary Sagert is no exception. She is a loving professional educator with high expectations for all students which is crucial in the early education years. Providing a caring atmosphere that allows her kindergarten students to develop a love of learning and the confidence needed to grow socially, emotionally and academically is Mary's greatest strength and makes her a Life Changer and a leadership model for others to follow. VOTE FOR MARY :)
I am so proud and lucky to work with Mary Sagert. Kindergarten is a crucial year for students, and they are certainly in good hands with Mrs. Sagert. I love to peek into her room when walking by to see multiple small groups working diligently. Her kindergarteners know which tasks to complete, and how to engage in academic discourse. It's true! Mary neither boasts nor brags about what goes on in her classroom.
I'm always impressed when our principal, Dr. Hillyer, randomly calls on Mary to share out a particular strategy at our 7:00 am staff meetings. She answers in detail, and gives examples of how a seemingly upper grade expectation would look like in kindergarten. Mary is a superstar teacher!
Mrs. Sagert has been my teaching partner for 15 years. She is an amazing teacher who always puts her students first and amazing to work along with every day as part of my kinder team. I am also excited to have my son in her class next year because I know he will be getting the best kindergarten experience and education I could ever hope for him. Mrs. Sagert is someone who definitely deserves recognition for her dedication and hard work but at the same time would never ask or expect an honor such as this. Way to go!
Mary is an amazing person and teacher all around!!!
Mary is a life changer in all aspects of her life!
I have been blessed to have 3 of my 4 children be students of Mrs. Sagert and still to this day they absolutely love her. I have helped in her class many times and have seen what Dr. Hillyer has explained put into action daily. She is an incredible teacher that Stoddard is blessed to have.
Mrs. Sagert, is a prime example of the perfect teacher. She is always optimistic, and encouraging others with her words and actions. She is not any of my kids teacher, however, she has taught each of my kids something valuable in life. She has a great heart and amazing outlook on life! There's not a better teach to have been given this chance to show how they shine. She deserves it more than anyone I know. We love you Momma Mary!
I worked with Mary for 3 years as a resource specialist. She was always supportive of her students. She worked hard to make sure all of her students were successful. She is a wonderful teacher. I'm happy to see that she was nominated for this award. She deserves it!
A true professional and a true heart. Providing a strong start for Kindergartners is what Mrs. Sagert does so well. Not just growing students' academics but a life-long love of learning. Thank you for your continued dedication for our students.
It is no exaggeration to say that Mary Sagert changes lives. I know first hand because I am her mother and a principal in the same school district. Knowing many of the same community and children, she shares endless stories with me of her students and what she is doing to give them the very best education. She spends countless hours reaching out to them on multiple levels teaching them important life lessons like learning is fun and someone cares about you. She stays at the very top of her game to be a rigorous engaging community educator. This year, as she often volunteers for took on an extremely chalkenging student. All she could talk about to me was his cute little silver front tooth and how excited she was when the light bulb went on for him. She brings home work to show me the growth in her students. A few years ago when she had a student throwing shoes at her... all she could talk about was was what a good shot he was ... Mary always finds the best in everyone and everything. This year, at my school I had a new student that knew Mary through the community. He was misbehaving and I told him I was Mrs. Sagert's mother. After a long pause this 5 year old looked at me and he smiled saying... "You mean Mama Mary?".... Mary loves each and every student... she expects excellence from them, herself, her colleagues, and her parents. She forgives, supports, and is grateful to have been given this role in life as lead learner in this journey.
She has my vote! She's the best!
Mary Sagert sees potential in every young person she teaches. She brings out the best from her kids. We are so blessed that she was my daughter's teacher.
Mary is an awesome teacher and friend!
Mary Sagert is an incredible and passionate educator. I've worked with her for 10 years, and I'm more and more impressed by her dedication to her students and families. She is a mentor to other teachers, suppprter for parents, and wonderful staff member who gives back to her school.
I agree! I vote for Mary!
I was fortunate enough to have worked with Mary Sagert for over 7 years. In that time I was able to see what an asset she was for the teaching community. One of Mary's gifts is her positive energy. Having worked with her students and having spent time in her classroom, I witnessed the engaging and nurturing environment she provides her students. She invests the time to get to know each of them and customize the learning for their individual needs. Collaborating with Mary was another positive experience for me. She is creative, intelligent, open-minded, and yet very humble. She taught me a lot about teaching students how to read and trying different methods for challenging students. Mary Sagert has been changing lives for many years and it is an honor to be a part of this process!
I worked with Mary for 3 years as a resource specialist. She was always supportive of her students. She worked hard to make sure all of her students were successful. She is a wonderful teacher. I'm happy to see that she was nominated for this award. She deserves it!
When you walk into Mary Sagert's kindergarten classroom, you won't see kids. Instead you'll see 30 young scientists, computer programmers, engineers, artists, and mathematicians. Okay, yes, they're kids, but under Mary's nurturing guidance, these kindergarteners transform into STEAM-focused scholars. In this way, Mary Sagert is a powerful life changer. She leads her children to step into the big world and find ways in which they may make amazing contributions. I see it all the time when I collaborate with her. Over the years, I have had the privilege to work with Mary as she has implemented this 21st century curriculum and have seen how her students enthusiastically engage in their deep levels of learning. Mary's unyielding positive approach inspires the entire faculty to become agents of change like she is.
I had the privilege of being Mary's Kinder buddy this past year. She planned common core activities that were fun and engaging for her kindergarten students and my 6th grade students. Because of her planning, many English Language Learners were able to learn from my students and develop relationships with older children. Anytime my students saw her students on campus they offered a friendly greeting, which also helped the kindergarteners transition to school.
She's utterly exceptional and such a sunshine to work with. She always brings a smile to your face no matter how tough the day may have been. I'm very blessed to have an opportunity to share the same passion as her.
It is a privilege to be able to work alongside Mary Sagert. I am the Curriculum Coach for Stoddard Elementary and thoroughly enjoy working with Mary. She is a reflective practitioner, who is always striving to do her best. I appreciate that Mary is always eager to learn and try new things, as she knows this benefits her students. Most importantly, Mary always remains positive and open minded to change. I can always count on Mary, to be a teacher I can go to, for advice on lessons, or to try new strategies out in her classroom. She is very much a team player and ultimately, cares most about, what will make her a better educator for her students. Mary is honest, flexible, and always willing to support her colleagues. Despite working in one of the most challenging professions, Mary constantly remains positive and always keeps her students' best interests at the forefront of all that she does. I personally appreciate Mary, because she's helped me to be reflective, and grow in my role as a coach, through her support and collaboration. Mary is incredibly humble, dedicated, and very deserving of this high honor.
