LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Terry Wernick

Position: ESOL Teacher
School: Laurel Elementary School
School District: Prince George's County Public Schools
City, State: Laurel, MD

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Music that Describes Terry

Terry Wernick was nominated by his colleague, Patricia Walker.

Mr. Wernick began teaching ESOL when Prince George’s County Public Schools had a lower immigrant population. He worked at several schools in the district before transferring to Laurel Elementary School, where there was a huge influx of Spanish-speaking students. At Laurel, he immediately became a favorite of the fifth grade boys. Mr. Wernick realized the students had a lot of knowledge; they just weren't able to communicate it in English. They were being dismissed by some of their classroom teachers as being unable to do fifth grade work and given assignments that were far easier than their peers. While this was meant to “help” the students “adjust to the new language,” it often made the students feel inadequate. They would shut down and give up instead of responding.

Mr. Wernick tried different pathways to communicate with each individual child until he found one that allowed the student to respond. Sometimes, it was an electronic resource, but more often than not, it was his small-group instruction that gave students the confidence to keep trying to communicate in their language, as well as in English. Motivated by the progress they made with Mr. Wernick, the students changed their behavior and participation in their curricular classrooms. Students who were dismissed by classroom teachers as being unable to complete work because of the language barrier were able to demonstrate that they could learn alongside their peers.

Mr. Wernick helped his students by giving them hands-on experiences to enlarge their vocabulary. Every year, Mr. Wernick applied for a grant to take the ESOL students on a nature-based field trip. For several years, it was a kayaking trip at the Chesapeake Environmental Center. Another year, it was a guided boat trip and hike along the Patuxent River. Yet another year, it was a guided boat trip and outdoor activity on the Anacostia River. Through these field trips, students learned the necessary vocabulary to describe what they were doing and how it made them feel. When they returned to school, they had the vocabulary and confidence to share their experience with their teachers and their peers. This confidence is what helped these students succeed in a society and language where they were still novices. Instead of feeling as if they had more in common with Kindergarten students than their peers, they now had experiences that made them an authority.

Mr. Wernick’s holistic approach to reaching English language learners created a safe space for students to learn English and communication skills that prepared them for education in their new country. It gave them the confidence they needed to begin their academic journey without being left behind. While other educators offered excuses for why these students couldn't keep up with their native speaking peers, Mr. Wernick gave them electronic and hands-on resources to succeed, both in school and in their new society. He is a hero because he gave so many students the ability to grow and learn in the American school system. These initial successes allowed students to achieve more in middle and high school than they would have without Mr. Wernick’s instruction.

"Mr. Wernick is a LifeChanger because he gave a generation of students a firm foundation for a lifetime of learning," said Walker. "Without his care and commitment, they may never have had the confidence to become the students they were capable of becoming."

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Comments (3)

Jennifer Fowlkes Posted over a year ago

Do you have a colleague who brings a smile to your face whenever you even hear their name? Yeah, that's Terry Wernick! Terry is the true meaning of honorable. His actions toward both staff and students are honest, fair, and worthy of respect. He believes in truth and doing the right thing — and tries to live up to those high principles by encouraging his students to do the same. Terry is an advocate for his ESOL students. He believes in each of them and provides them with quality programs to increase their language skills and help them become confident learners. Terry is also team player. He attends parent conferences for all of his students and provides current data showing each child's progress. He makes learning fun and celebrates the students' success. Even our non-ESOL students beg to leave with his groups. Terry goes out of his way to make his students feel valued. To get students excited about distance learning, Terry created a contest for his learners. He sent the winner a bag of Takis! How awesome is that? Terry also supports the staff. He is a valued member of our third grade team. He has organized field trips for the entire grade level, supported fund raising events, and is flexible to accommodate any and every school snafu. But above all, Terry Wernick has the greatest sense of humor. Even under stressful situation, Terry has the ability to lighten the mood and make you smile. He truly brings joy to everyone around him. Laurel Elementary is losing one of the greatest. I am proud to know Terry Wernick and am empowered from watching his humble yet methodical approach to teaching. The staff and students at Laurel Elementary School are blessed for having had him in our lives. We love you, Mr. Wernick!

Beth Hurst Posted over a year ago

My colleagues at Laurel Elementary School have captured so much of who Mr. Wernick is as a teacher and how much he has meant to students and staff. When Mr. Wernick joined the staff at Laurel Elementary some years ago, he immediately became one of the staff members that could be counted upon to lighten the load. When needed, he volunteered to cover for staff various morning, lunch duty, recess and after school posts to make sure students remained safe, cared for and received that much needed break during the academic day. He has been a large part of why students feel confident and comfortable as learners. Also, he has ensured that students who were second language learners had opportunities to participate in school trips that would enhance and promote their cultural and academic well being. Along with taking on the role of not only a second language teacher, he is one of the students' biggest cheerleaders and educational advocates. Whatever he could do to make students new to the country, school and academic setting thrive, Mr. Wernick has done that; and he has done it well. It is true that Mr. Wernick takes an holistic approach to teaching and serving students. Perhaps that it why students who were not second language learners wanted to be a part of his small groups as well. He just made learning and being in school so much fun. In addition, he has provided students an educational setting that serves as a safe haven, a chance to blossom and an opportunity to show what they know. As a fellow educator, Mr. Wernick has made a lasting impression on me personally. Last year, when I was given an opportunity to take on the role of a second language teacher, he was so very helpful. As the department head, he offered his expertise as a most patient and knowledgeable mentor. His calm demeanor caused me to feel more confident in my new teaching responsibilities. Needless to mention, I am greatful beyond words; and I wish him well all of his life. Thank you Mr. Wernick for all you do and how you care for children.

Amber Frey Posted over a year ago

As stated above, Mr. Wernick does not only truly care about his student's growth, but about the students as individuals and their well-being as people. This is obvious to see through their eagerness to work with him. Students were always excited to "leave class" to get to go work with Mr. Wernick and practice their English; as if they were getting to go play games and not complete educational work (which was not the case). This culture of non-judgmental support and confidence-building that these 3rd graders were involved in, really helped them take risks in their language learning. Students who worked with Mr. Wernick would volunteer to read aloud in class and would be excited with the opportunity to show me what they achieved while working with him. Mr. Wernick was continuously providing additional support to the teachers as well. He would match the material he was using in his small group with the material being discussed in class. Not only would that provide an additional connection for the students to grasp the material, he would go further and implement hands on, engaging learning methods for them to dive further into their practice and implementation of the material. He would also support their achievements in ways special to each student and he built a culture where the students supported their peer's achievements as well. Throughout my short time working with Mr. Wernick, he went beyond his role as an ESOL teacher supporting his varied-grade level students and helped support the general well-being of all students. He helped find, put together and create grade-level field trips, assisted with in-school 'field-trips,' offered support to staff when there would be assemblies or visitors to the school. He was not only an 'ESOL teacher' at Laurel, but a true advocate for providing amazing experiences to our students; experiences they might not have received otherwise. The students would race to be able to high-five him first when coming in at the beginning of the day. When they would test out of ESOL, they would beg to go work with him still during their recess or earned-reward time during class. When students would ask every single day to play a specific math game on their computers, but then when they are given the chance to play said math game, they ask to go work with Mr. Wernick instead, you know he has changed the life of those students in an astonishing way. As a newer teacher to Laurel, I am sad I will not be able to continue to work with, and have the support of such an experienced, attentive and thoughtful ESOL teacher. I am beyond grateful I was able to work with him in the time I did and learn what I did from him; not only about how to support ESOL students, but how to build relationships and support my students as individuals.