Music that Describes Heidi
Heidi HIll was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
"Heidi Hill is one of those magical teachers that seem to only exist in fiction, yet I promise you that she is real," explains her colleague. "I'll start with a story, but with some altered details to protect the student's identity."
Heidi worked with a student who was encountering some significant issues in the school setting. "Heidi dedicated every free moment to reacclimating this student and keeping a positive connection." The colleague states that while they worked as a team, it was Heidi's hard work, flexibility, and deep care for her students that allowed the student to once again find success in school.
"By the end of the year, the student was 100% back with peers and fully engaged in learning and social activities for the entire school day. But this wasn't a special student. Heidi would have dug in deeply for any student. She is persistent, understanding, gentle, and knows when to ask for more from a student. Most importantly, Heidi sees every student. She has this way of looking and talking to students that can't be described, but it's filled with humanity and respect. Students work hard because Heidi believes in their value as beings. She expects them to be learners who can conquer hard things, not so that they can pass a test, but so that they can get through life's challenges to find their dreams," said the colleague.
"She celebrates with them and laughs with them. I honestly think any kid with trauma would experience important healing just by being in her classroom and experiencing deep care and reasonable expectations. I wish I could bottle this care and sprinkle a little in every classroom in the country so that every child feels fully seen and heard," said the colleague.
"As a peer, she will speak her mind, but she is also a great team member. She values every team member...Heidi is not one to seek praise, but she certainly deserves it. She amazes me regularly and stands out among a group of extremely dedicated and hard-working teachers," said the colleague.
Heidi knows how to bring out the best in students. She helps them believe in themselves which is both a gift and a skill. She connects with them, engages them and encourages them forward with just the right amount of support and encouragement, building their confidence. Her interest, enthusiasm and love for teaching is genuine and her positive energy is infectious. She's a strong advocate for promoting independent skill development and pulling together to support one another in community. This makes her such an excellent teacher and coach.
Heidi exemplifies a candidate for the Life Changer Of The Year award! Positivity radiates from her and is infectious to any one in her orbit. Every day she gives so much of herself to her students and profession that it will leave you wondering just how she does it. As a colleague, I see first hand how she has a positive effect on each and every one of her students. To be her colleague is an honor. If only some of her teaching methods, relationships with students and passion for what she does rubs off on me, I'll be that much better for it.
I'm so pleased to learn about this nomination and completely support Heidi receiving this award! As a music therapist at the Warren School, I've been able to work alongside Heidi in supporting students who demonstrate more challenging behaviors. I've long admired Heidi's ability to meet these students where they're at while also providing them opportunities for growth. Heidi's optimism and enthusiasm is contagious; she clearly has a passion for teaching and supporting children in becoming their best selves. I truly hope you receive this recognition, Heidi! It's SO well-deserved!
Heidi, you DO change lives every single day, this is a well-deserved honor!! You encourage, motivate, inspire, and celebrate your students like no one else. They adore you, and for good reasons. You set the bar high and do everything you can to help students achieve their goals. You make connections with each one of your students, whatever it takes, and that shows in their willingness to take risks that they would not do otherwise. You are trustworthy, empathetic, and optimistic. You meet kids right where they are and support them as they soar to new heights. No one deserves this more than you!
Heidi is not only a life changer for her students, but everyone in her radius. I feel fortunate to have been able to work in her classroom before starting on my own teaching path. It's hard to think of anyone who deserves this recognition more!
The positive school-defining culture of the The Warren School is iconic and storied in the Mad River Valley. Many complex ingredients define this school community, but most specifically, a dedicated veteran staff that never stops giving to students and their families.
Heidi Hill's dedication to student experience is emblematic of our staff's overall commitment to our students. She, like all of our staff, work tirelessly to support students and continue to build the life-defining learning experiences that contribute to the our students' successes. As a building principal, seeing staff like Heidi in the classroom is nothing short of inspirational. Schools are complex entities, but the classroom community culture begins with these amazing teachers. In recent years, and of course, through the COVID pandemic, the world has been shown not only how hard our teachers work, but how critical their 'whole student' support truly is in building a social safety net in our communities. Heidi...we're so honored to work with you and have you nominated for this award !
You deserve this Heidi!! I’ll never forget Morgan telling me you were her favorite teacher - beginning from kindergarten. Good luck!!
There is no question that Heidi deserves this award. She has heart and intellect to support and uphold her range of students through the transition from early education to readying for middle school. She meets students where they are and guides them towards self responsibility and self respect as growing learners. Well done, Heidi!
I'm so pleased to read this and not surprised at all. Heidi was a friend in high school and we were colleagues working at a summer camp with children. She is a gem of a human and my life has been enriched having spent time with her.
Congratulations Heidi- well deserved my friend.
Congratulations, Heidi! What an honor. Well deserved!
I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award than Heidi Hill! I am the special educator on the 3rd and 4th grade team and have worked very closely with Heidi over many years. Heidi often receives many of the students on my caseload, often, the students who present with the most challenging behaviors. They are placed with her intentionally. She has the perfect combination of compassion, dedication, humor, and ability to motivate students to be their best. She has clear and firm expectations, but she is also incredibly perceptive, understanding, nurturing and responsive to the needs of her students when they are in need. I have watched her give up countless hours of her planning/personal time to communicate with families when students are going through difficult times, to communicate with colleagues to boost support around a student, and to spend much needed 1:1 time with students when they are too distraught to attend classes. She is able to connect and build relationships always meeting students where they are at. I have watched so many of my students grow and thrive during the 2 years they spend with her. She gives so much of herself to others. I am so thrilled that this amazing and humble teacher might finally be recognized for all that she does to improve the lives of her students.
I COMPLETELY support this nomination. Heidi is my colleague and she is an inspiration to all teachers. Heidi pushes us to reach high standards and brings out the best in anyone she works with. When we are collaborating about our practice, Heidi encourages us to try new things and tweak our approaches to better meet the needs of each individual child. While committed to a solid foundation grounded in best practices, Heidi challenges complacency and is always seeking to reinvigorate her practice by trying new things. Heidi KNOWS her students! She connects with them every day they enter her classroom and each child KNOWS they are seen and heard by their teacher.
Not only am I a colleague of Heidi's, but I am honored to say that my own child was in Heidi's classroom. To this day (he is now a freshman in college) he says, "Heidi Hill was the best teacher I ever had!" She brings joy and spirit to her classroom as she works hard to build strong relationships with her students WHILE pushing her students to reach high standards. She expects hard work and builds rigor and challenge into her program. Because of Heidi's spirit and love for her students, she inspires them to be the absolute BEST they can be. Heidi Hill IS a LIFECHANGER and the MOST deserving of this recognition!
Heidi Hill truly is a life changer! My daughter was in Heidi's class last year and is lucky enough to have her as a teacher again next year. Learning is not always easy for my daughter and her confidence regarding her abilities can waver. Being in Heidi's class has given my daughter an incredible boost in the way she sees herself as a learner. She comes home everyday full of stories and accomplishments from Heidi's classroom. She takes everything that Heidi says to heart and will share inspiring quotes she learned from Heidi with us at the dinner table.
Heidi puts social emotional health and learning at the forefront of everything she does in the classroom. She implemented a positive affirmation routine in her classroom. My daughter brought home the affirmations she received from her peers and cherishes them, rereading them from time to time. Heidi has been able to support my daughter through friendship challenges and has truly made her a better person.
Additionally, I am a colleague of Heidi's and can say that she not only changes her students' lives but also makes the lives of the adults at our school better! She is cheerful and caring and willing to do anything to make our school the best place it can be. Heidi is often one of the first teachers to get to school in the morning and the last to leave at the end of the day. To say she is a dedicated professional is an understatement!
Heidi you are an inspiration to us all. Your time and dedication are nothing short of amazing and made of super woman strength. Not only did you help this student, you kept the whole class moving flawlessly throughout the rest of the school year. Three cheers to you!
