Abby Smith
Position: Ninth Grade English Teacher
School: Escondido High School
School District: Escondido Union High School District
City, State: Escondido, CA
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Abby Smith was nominated by Alayna Templeton, a member of the community.
After teaching remotely for a year, Ms. Smith realized the educational inequities some of her students faced as they struggled to adapt to online learning. Watching her students inspired her to pursue her Master's Degree in Educational Technology through Boise State University. She believed that online learning would not be going away no matter what the future held. Instead of dreading it, she chose to embrace it as a way to engage and reach her struggling students.
Now that she is back in the classroom at EHS, she's still observing how the pandemic has affected her students. Their biggest struggles are missing so much school due to COVID-19, COVID-19 exposure, or family members being sick at home with COVID. Ms. Smith saw a need and decided to branch out of her comfort zone. She designed a website containing all of her lessons, including instructional videos and notes she made so that even if her students had to miss class, they wouldn't have to fall behind. Ms. Smith structured her website so that the lessons are self-paced; every student works at a different pace. She incorporated opportunities for students to work collaboratively and activities for more advanced students to explore the content further. She also taught her students how to use Google Sites. They are currently making their own English 9 Writing Portfolios. She loves to see how proud her students are to share their work with the world. She spends many evenings and weekends working on this project because she cares so much about her students and loves what she does. She also loves collaborating with other teachers by sharing her creations and passing on the knowledge of how they're helping her students. Many of her colleagues are enthusiastic about her methods and have even given her special shoutouts at staff meetings.
This year, Ms. Smith has taken part in a project developed by her school to help struggling students avoid falling through the cracks by supporting first-year students in their Freshmen Academy. During one of her class periods, she connects and checks in with students who are struggling with their grades and don't have the support that other students with IEPs have. Ms. Smith meets with them regularly to understand their needs and invites them to Cougar Cave. She hosts Cougar Cave every Tuesday after school as a tutorial for students to get help with their homework. Even if they don't get all their work done, she still sees it as a success to provide them a safe space to hang out after school.
Abbey. Has recently married my nephew. Although we live across the Country from each other, Abbey I can only imagine from knowing her, seeing her personality and that beautiful smile of hers, how great she must be with her students in working with them to achieve their goals. I am sure she will change the lives a touch many students.
Good luck Abbey my Life Changer of the year
Abby is a blessing to the education world. She always has a positive attitude and as long as I have know her she is always wanting to help and better everyone around her. Any school district in the state is blessed to have her.
It is educators like this that give our future hope.
Should Abby every want to relocate Coast Union Unified School District would be honored to talk to her.
During a time when educators are leaving their careers due to economic and safety concerns, I am impressed with Abby and how different life issues she encountered did not detour her from becoming a teacher. As a person who worked full time and earned my degree while raising my son, I know how difficult it is to remain focused on the goal. Abby worked full time while taking classes to ensure she could reach her goal. Once she began teaching, she proved to herself and others that she made the correct career choice. I know she has provided extra time to ensure students understand their course work, enjoy learning and are able to meet their assignment deadlines. This type of support from an educator is a value to students and to the community. I am proud of Abby, and as she works towards completing her master’s degree, it is obvious she is doing whatever she can to provide support to her current and future students.
I have had the pleasure of starting at EHS with Ms. Smith and seeing her continue to hone her craft. We both teach 9th grade, and students are constantly telling me that she is their favorite teacher. She uses technology in order to help make her lessons more accessible to a wide variety of learners. I cannot say enough amazing things about her. She truly is the best!
I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Abby Smith in both the English department and on our ninth grade ELA team. Abby’s ability to find and utilize new technology with her students absolutely blows me away. Just as Abby is amazing at showing fellow teachers how to use these tools, she is equally wonderful with the students. Abby is kind, supportive, patient, and inspiring. I would not be surprised if students will follow in her path because she is an amazing role model. It is such a joy to work with Abby and I am so happy that she has joined our Cougar family. She represents us in every way and is so deserving of this recognition.
Abby is an amazing teacher. She is super supportive and goes out of her way to ensure ALL her students feel included and cared for.
Abby is a great teacher and friend!
Abby is amazing! As you know she’s an English teacher, however she was able to team teach with me in a math class! She was so fantastic with all our kiddos. She was great at putting herself in the vulnerable learner position with the mathematics and truly helped the kids learn math and student skills. All students love her soo soo much. We are so grateful to have Ms. Smith in our campus. :)
Amazing teacher! I work across the hall from Abby and see her shouting greetings to students in the halls. She’s out there everyday - a beacon of positivity. Inside the classroom she cares deeply for her students. I hear her students share compliments about her regularly. Abby has also taken the lead sharing tech tips that have made the return to school better for teachers and students.
Abby is always quick to provide meaningful feedback for my Special Education students.
Abby is amazing with our kids. She’s flexible, understanding and most importantly a caring and supportive person for our kids. She goes above and beyond. She really understands individual students as whole individuals and works with each one to ensure they have everything they need to be successful. Students love her. Students can feel the love from Abby! We are lucky to have her as part of our team.
Abbey is beloved by both teachers and students, alike! I see kids hanging around her room all day long. Kids feel safe with her and she makes a difference in their lives.
Abby is extremely hard working and dedicated to the students of Escondido. She is involved in our house system supporting students outside of her classroom and plans engaging lessons for her students and all of English 9.
Abby Smith is always trying tondonthe best for her students.
Abby is simply a fantastic educator that goes above and beyond for her students, campus, and coworkers! She is engaging, innovative, energetic, and committed to helping everyone around her!
You’re hard work has paid off and our students are lucky to have you!
Abby is a major positive force in our school among both students and faculty. She is certainly deserving of this award and her students too!
Congrats Abby. Thank you for your commitment in supporting all students. Keep up the amazing work.
Abby has an excellent attitude in the classroom. She’s a wonderful coworker and a pleasure to work with. I love teaching together with her.
As a new teacher this year, Abby was such a big help! She helped me with lessons and was always there to support myself and my class.
Abby spreads her light with every student she meets
Abby is an awesome member of the EHS family!!
Abby, is a phenomenal teacher and is very passionate about her students and career. She truly changes her students lives and makes them responsible for their learning.
The way in which Abby utilizes technology and embraces students through technology is refreshing. Being able to observe her as a teacher candidate has been very rewarding and a great model for me to carry forth!
Abby is the perfect choice for this award!
Abby is a great collaborative colleague and teacher. She is inspiring and the kids really respond well. So lucky to have her on our team here at EHS!!
Abby is an amazing educator and always puts students first. She created engaging lessons that include awesome technology.
Abby, Abby, Abby! Best teacher ever!
Abby is the real deal!
I am so incredibly honored to teach beside her in our classes! She truly goes above and beyond for ALL students. She cares deeply about their success and making our class meaningful. She provides the tools necessary for students to be successful and helps me support students with IEPs in our class. Abby works around the clock to develop lessons that support the different learning levels and most importantly makes reading relevant to their lives. Anyone that gets the opportunity to know Mrs. Smith-Gall has a friend and a supporter for life.
We love you!
Remember, I got you, girl!
In our class, We've got...Double the teacher, Double the fun, Double the love!!
WAHOOOOOO!!!
Abby is the real deal!
I am so incredibly honored to teach beside her in our classes! She truly goes above and beyond for ALL students. She cares deeply about their success and making our class meaningful. She provides the tools necessary for students to be successful and helps me support students with IEPs in our class. Abby works around the clock to develop lessons that support the different learning levels and most importantly makes reading relevant to their lives. Anyone that gets the opportunity to know Mrs. Smith-Gall has a friend and a supporter for life.
We love you!
Remember, I got you, girl!
In our class, We've got...Double the teacher, Double the fun, Double the love!!
WAHOOOOOO!!!
I first met Abby when she joined our English department three years ago as a first year teacher. It is still hard for me to comprehend that she's so new because she thinks, plans, and loves like someone who has been doing it her whole life. Abby emerged as someone special immediately. Her curiosity and her commitment to engaging students is inspiring.
As part of our 9th grade team, Abby took the lead immediately. She created lessons and shared them with us and they were far more complex, thoughtful, and engaging than anything we had created in years. She reinvigorated our team with her creativity and willingness to try anything. She is brave in the classroom and students and staff fall in love with her ability to listen and show empathy.
Abby is also a campus leader. Even before she is tenured, Abby is leading a WASC group through cycles to gather evidence for our report. In addition, she is the lead for the 9th grade English team and coordinated interventions for struggling freshmen.
Our school is so lucky to have Abby and I'm so fortunate to call her my friend. She is source of inspiration for all of us and I look forward to continue to learn from her. We love you, Mrs. Smith!
I know I am biased here. In full disclosure, Abby is not only my favorite teacher, but also my wife. This makes me lucky in so many ways, none more so than having a front-row seat to how she has transformed her career after a delayed start as an educator. It has been inspiring to watch her learn and grow, fighting through all the struggles and then coming out on top as a better teacher and person. We talk daily about all the new lessons and activities she is working on for her students. It consumes her in the best way possible because she throws everything she has into these efforts. There are days when I know she is tired and has reached her limit of challenges, both in and out of the classroom, but this does not stop her from attempting to figure out how she can improve upon her methods to give every student a fair chance of succeeding. The stories I love to hear the most are about kids whom she previously taught stopping by for a quick visit to drop her a friendly note or tell her how much they miss her classes. I know that means the world to Abby on both a personal and professional level. Finally, we have the good fortune to realize how supportive everyone at EHS has been to her since day 1. I think it is rare in this day and age to feel as if your employer treats you like part of a family, and that is exactly the type of culture that her colleagues have demonstrated from the outset. Abby has earned her nomination for LifeChanger of the Year based on merit alone. Even if one of the other well-deserving candidates is selected for this award, it won't change the fact that she has changed many lives already, including my own.
