Music that Describes Jennifer
Jennifer Blot was nominated by her friend, Kim Wendisch.
Innovative, effective, creative, dedicated, loving. The list of adjectives to describe Ms. Blot goes on and on. During her successful career, she has made a positive impact in the lives of young children. Her classroom environment stimulates her students' minds while nurturing their well-being, as well.
"I was fortunate to work with her on my team for a few years, and we stayed in touch when we went to different schools," said Wendisch. "I witnessed her countless hours of planning and her drive to prepare engaging lessons. She was a positive leader on our team."
Ms. Blot willingly attended conferences to quench her thirst for the latest and best practice ideas so she could implement them. She didn't keep doing the same things over and over again. Instead, she kept changing her lessons and approach as education regularly changes.
Ms. Blot strived to create a warm, inviting space where her students thrived. Her test scores were consistently remarkable, but she didn't focus on that. She didn't "teach to the test." She cared about the results, but focused on her students' growth and well being. Ms. Blot constantly adjusted to the ever-changing demands and expectations of her job, as well as the needs of her students.
"We saw first hand what a difference she can make in not only a child's life, but a family's life, when she was our child's second grade teacher," said Wendisch. "Jennifer embraced our son's special needs and made him feel like he could do anything. Our son was treasured, valued, and supported, no matter what. Jennifer has changed my life, as well as the lives of countless children, teachers, parents, colleagues."
Thanks for not 'teaching to the test'. I'm sure that you made a big difference in the lives of all of the 3rd graders you taught. Congratulations on your retirement!
Jennifer is indeed a life changer. She is a born teacher. She has touched many lives of her own family, friends, students, and their families and colleagues. I was fortunate enough to meet Jennifer early on in my teaching career when she arrived at Citrus Grove Elementary. I always hated that there was a wall between our classes. Even so, I saw that her students loved and adored her and would take risks and try harder for her. The results were more than outstanding. Her students grew in self-pride. Every student felt safe and cared for. She taught me to teach in small steps and allow for student-lead learning to take place. Later, I became Kyle’s 2nd-grade teacher. He was the perfect kind of active for me and I remember many laughs and his dislike for writing! Just look at him now! Jennifer has always had a great love for the craft of teaching, and she was constantly reworking and improving lessons and activities. She generously shared her thinking. I am most grateful for those years together. I credit her for igniting the teacher in me. Most of what I like about instructing to this very day was inspired by Jennifer and the things she shared. Jennifer is a life changer. She is an extraordinary teacher, deeply admired by her colleagues, and lives her best life. Congratulations and best wishes to my dear friend.
Wow, what an honor to have worked along side Jennifer, been her room mom for two years in a row and then maintaining a friendship for the next 20 years! I loved and appreciated her dedication and excellent learning environment so much that I just had to be her room mom so I could be a participant and at the same time learn how to be a better parent! She changed so many children's lives by pouring into their hearts and minds by showing them unconditional love and validation. So thankful for Jennifer's generosity to her students, staff and family along the way. You deserve much more than words can say! You are a true gift to everyone who knows you! ????
I met Jennifer in 1980 while attending Broward Community College and we became fast friends! We went on to study at Florida Atlantic University in the College of Education. Jennifer has the art of teaching in her blood! Throughout her career she strived to stay updated in current teaching methods. She was continuously learning and re-vamping lessons to meet the needs of her students. Jennifer would read articles, attend trainings/workshops and was always looking for new ways to facilitate learning in all her students, no matter what obstacles or challenges arose. It really was her mission to educate young children! And while all of the above is noteworthy and deserving of recognition, it is my belief that the relationships she formed with her students, their parents and her colleagues are her greatest legacy! She was determined to find something to love about everyone! Jennifer truly cared for all who crossed her path. This is a rare trait and one to be commended and celebrated! The saying is true, students may not always remember what you taught them, but they will forever remember how you made them feel. This model applies to grown-ups as well. Not only did Jennifer teach the curriculum with the highest of expectations, she taught life skills about kindness, cooperation, empathy and sharing, and she did it with love! Jennifer Blot is one of a kind and so deserving of this nomination! Cheers to the years my friend! You are and will continue to be a life changer!
Go girl!! Love ya, brother Phil
Jennifer is an amazing educator! She is so very deserving of this honor!
I have known Jennifer Pickett Blot most of our lives. (I am not a teacher; I am a psychologist.) I have had the privilege of hearing about Jen's journey as a teacher for thirty years. The other comments and messages have a theme: caring and commitment. I would add focus. Whatever the changes, challenges, and adversities over that time whether by laws, mandates, principals, teams, technologies, testings, classrooms with extra ESL or extra EC students assigned to you because of your talent and skill, other requirements unknown to me, regardless of the demands, expectations, and requests, however unreasonable, at times impossible, Jen never, not once, lost sight of her mission: To teach students well and see them succeed. Whatever the obstacle, Jen re-doubled her determination to achieve her mission. Moreover, she did so with undaunted grace and without complaint. I admire you, Jen. I take my hat off to you. Congratulations on your career, your retirement, and your nomination for this LifeChanger of the Year award! I'm for you!
Lisa
Jen is certainly a role model for us all in the education field. I had the opportunity to team teach with Jen when she served as a 2nd grade teacher in Broward County, FL and I have to say, as a first year teacher at that time, I could not of
Asked for a better mentor and friend. She believed in me so much. I even had the privilege of teaching her daughter Katie, who has turned out to be an amazing young lady. I not only learned how to deliver instruction, plan effectively, and manage a classroom of daily behaviors and tasks from Jen - but - what she really instilled in me was the love of learning and the trust that every student can learn, no Matter their circumstances. Her brand will stick with me forever! I believe she is the one person in this field that had helped make me what I am today - a successful Literacy Coach and currently, interim Assistant Principal. This is truly a nomination well-deserved. I am so proud of you Jen!
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Jennifer is so deserving of this prestigious nomination! She is an amazing teacher and role model!!! I had the privilege of working with Jen at Crystal Lake Elementary many years ago. Coming to Stuart from Broward County, she quickly integrated herself into the school. Fellow teachers appreciated her, administration admired her and the students knew they had a special place in her heart. She truly loved each and every student she came in contact with. Everyday, each child was greeted individually at the start of the day and at the end of the day she also sent them off toward home or after care with a sprinkling of endearing words. Not as a group, but one by one they were addressed. All her students knew that she especially cared for them, no doubt about it. Jennifer always worked "overtime", staying at school to ready herself for the coming days with never a complaint and her students excelled as a result. Achievement doesn't happen by accident, someone or a group of people are always behind it.
Congratulations Jennifer, best wishes and much love.
Joy Ingram
Jen,
You are an amazing educator and I am blessed that Aidan had you as a teacher & I got to know you as a colleague! Enjoy this new chapter and know you will be missed!
Jennifer was one of the first teachers I met when I started my first year at CLE. She was helpful to help me get started and always available to answer questions and guide me thru my new adventure as a teacher. Not only was she a mentor but became a friend. Jen, I'm truly grateful to have you in my life and wish you nothing but happiness and relaxation in your next chapter of retirement.
I am Jennifer Blot’s son. First hand I can speak about all the effort she went into changing all of her students lives. She threw her life into her students. She spent so many hours behind the scenes trying to make her lesson plans perfect. She shed tears of happiness and stress just to see a student grow. The effort she gave every single day paid off. Speaking from my personal experience, my graduating class from South Fork High School. One of her students was the valedictorian of a class of over 300+ students. Not only that 3 of the students in the top 10 where her students. Thats just my school alone. I can’t speak for the other high schools but I would imagine it was the same. Still to this day ill have people come up to me asking if im her son and telling me how much they loved her. This was her life and her only goal was to make a student grow to their best potential. She did just that for 30 years. Congratulations on Graduation Mom. I love you and everything you have done for me and all of your students!