Music that Describes Rebecca
Rebecca Harrison was nominated by Kelly Shank Slavik, her colleague.
Ms. Harrison isn't your typical high school math teacher. You won't find her students sitting silently and copying notes to reference when completing 30 problems for homework. Instead, you will see students actively exploring their own mathematical ideas while Ms. Harrison guides them with skillful questioning.
"You see, Becky believes that her students are capable and treats them as such," said Shank Slavik. "She encourages students to have mathematical ideas and honors those ideas."
Every student in her classroom is a mathematician, and every one of them believes it. This culture doesn't happen by accident, and Ms. Harrison's number one priority is making her students feel heard, loved, and respected as human beings and mathematicians. Within her school building, she is constantly called upon to lead others. She is involved in far more than teaching mathematics classes. She teaches courses at all levels that prepare first-generation college students, leads the charge for equitable grading, and enjoys finding other content areas that intersect with mathematics to give students the best possible high school experience.
"Becky regularly teaches classes at the district level to teachers who want to learn how to engineer amazing learning experiences for students," explains Shank Slavik. "She teaches them how to make math much more enjoyable to learn to students. She willingly takes on all this leadership, even with a full-time teaching job."
Her data speaks for itself in showing that she is an effective educator. She is a LifeChanger, and her students and other teachers tell her so every year.
"She receives hundreds of notes and texts from students letting her know that she changed their lives for the better, and she has changed their view of mathematics," explains Shank Slavik. "Becky is simply an ambassador for changing the lives of her students and other teachers. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award. Just take the time to meet her; she will change your life too."
Becky is one of the most compassionate and understanding people I’ve had the pleasure of learning from. She has given countless students of all ages the opportunity to feel confident in their knowledge and to want more for themselves than the traditional education system allows. The hunger and passion for life and learning that she instills in herself and those around her is exceptional.
The way Becky talks to students of all ages is unique. She speaks with you as if it is already understood that you will be able to figure it out. It is just a matter of time before you believe it yourself :-)
I have had the privilege of working along side this amazing educator. Becky has always welcomed collaboration in order to keep standards and academic achievement high while incorporating supports and accommodations for students with special needs (additionally meeting needs of all students she worked with).
I taught with Becky for 10 years and she played the role of an advocate, supporter, and a very strong content teacher. Students felt very comfortable approaching Becky for math and life mentorship. Becky’s heart is always in the right place: with her students, for her students and colleagues and it was a joy to teach with Becky.
Becky not only has a ton of energy but an huge huge heart. She played a crucial role in allowing me to become the scholar I am today. Despite being an undocumented student, she put all of that aside and took the time to further educate me on not only math but life itself. Her lunch time became her and my one on one mentoring and tutoring. She would give up her free time or off periods to further explain things I was to shy to ask in the classroom. I confided in her and she went above and beyond her teacher role and advocated for me. She amplifies the voice of those students who are often left or set aside. Without a doubt, every single time anyone asks me who my favorite teacher is, I say her. She embodies the meaning of a teacher, friend and mom. You deserve this and so much more Mrs.Harrison!
Teaching environments just like Becky’s is why I moved to Fort Collins! She’s wonderful
There is not another teacher that deserves this more. Im so proud of you. I miss you!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I’ve always struggled with math never liked taking it. In my senior year of high school I told her I wasn’t going take math because I had all my credits to graduate. She convinced me to take her Algebra 2 class. In that class she helped me through problems and stayed after class. She answered my emails for homework questions. She is a teacher that I look up to and hope to be like as an upcoming teacher myself. I am grateful for everything she has done for me.
Becky Harrison is an amazing person. I met her as a math tutor and she was one of the first people to truly make it understandable for me. I now know her as a friend and I think this is just awesome. Well deserved!
Yes!! Becky is so deserving of this award! I worked with Becky for several years and constantly saw how she went above and beyond for all her students. It was so cool to see what an expert she was at not only her content, but at relationship building. Many students who needed a positive adult most, were able to connect with Becky! She is an amazing teacher and person!
I worked with Becky Harrison for many years. She reaches out to students, parents and colleagues to make everyone welcome in the community.
She learned spanish to better supports our students and parents. She always advocated for students and colleagues in underrepresented demographics. She always has been someone building connections to make the disenfranchised understand that she is their ally and will fight with them.
She's also a brilliant math teacher that blew me away when she modeled climate change as a mathematical function with her class. She deserves an award just for that. Maybe a phd as well
Becky saved me back in high school! Caring and passionate, she went beyond her duties, she still cared and helped me with math even when I wasn't her student anymore. Becky you know I will always be grateful for all you've done for me!!! The best teacher ever!!! Love you!
Sending you lots of love from Brasil!
Becky has always gone above and beyond to meet the needs of her students. Over the years she has had some of my Deaf or Hard of Hearing students and she has made such an effort to learn about these unique student needs and provide equal access so that my student's may experience success in her class. Becky you care about kids and you are an amazing teacher!
Becky is an amazing teacher! She cares about her students, and in turn, her students care about learning math. Becky understands the importance of strong relationships with students. Becky is dedicated to all students. Congratulations Becky!
This person is AMAZING at SO many things!! I am lucky to collaborate with her daily on writing lesson plans, and I can honestly say that she has had the most impact on how I have grown as a teacher. She never hesitates to drop whatever she is in the middle of to listen to any student, or staff member, and offer emotional support, and great possible solutions to any challenge. She works tirelessly to create new curriculum for new courses, and always strives to keep learning herself in order to do what is best for students. She often has former students pop into the office to chat about what they are doing now, and that is a testament to the relationships she builds with students. She makes me laugh everyday, and I look forward to seeing her smiling face in the office. She is relentless about making sure things are equitable for students to achieve, and she shows deep courage in advocating for others.
This human is a life-changer for me, and I know for countless others.
I was privileged enough to work along Becky as we did our masters program many years. She gave me amazing teaching strategies and ways to help my students by asking questions. I know that I can still reach out and she will provide me with ways to help my students. She is an amazing teacher
I had the immense pleasure of working with Becky when I first got into education. She set the bar extremely high for all future coworkers - her love of education is consistently evident in everything she does and in every interaction with students, their families, and her peers alike. To say she is an amazing educator is an understatement, to say the very least. From AVID to math to simply building relationships, Becky is the queen!
Thank you Becky for your dedication to your students. Many years ago, I was so thankful when you asked if there was a project your high school students could do to help the kindergarten students at Eyestone … and the 3D printed math racks were born! We’ve been using them in the classroom for 5 years and counting. Thanks for your help in creating amazing mathematicians in kindergarten!
yes Yes YES!
This award describes Becky perfectly. You have read that countless students have changed their self-perception because of the way she teaches them math. Those things are true. You have also read how she takes her passion for teaching young mathematicians and shares it with her peers as an instructor at our district-level training events. Also true. But even beyond the classroom, Becky is passionate about changing the way we evaluate and grade students in an equitable fashion. She has been part of our school's pilot program to revamp our grading practices with an eye on fairness and equity. She thinks outside the box and when she has an idea to improve the system she develops it, shares it, and pushes to make it happen.
Becky is a great teacher, a great collaborator, and a leader in the service of all things that are good for students. She has my unreserved support for this honor.
I have taught with Becky for two decades now. She is an educator that is dedicated to all students. The students we share know how invested she is in them. She goes the extra distance to support kids with college applications and has an especially tender spot for supporting first-generation college applicants. Becky cares about her students as people and develops lasting relationships. Her support, love for her students, and dedication to pubic education has most certainly changed many lives for the better!
The way Becky lives her life is similar to how Chuck Norris lives his life. When Becky does push-ups, she doesn't push herself up - she pushes the world down. I am in my first full year teaching, and I couldn't imagine doing this without somebody like Becky to help me along my way. She handles her life as a mom, wife, coworker, teacher, and dedicated Peloton member with so much grace that she would make a gold medal gymnast look clumsy. With the ease of a sloth, Becky changes the lives of everybody she interacts with.
She makes me want to be a better teacher. She is always trying to figure out how to make things better in the school system and her students lives.
Becky is such an incredible leader! Her positivity and light in this world is unbenounced and infectious! She creates the most amazing environment where ever she may be. She is so inclusive and brings people together. She is a life changer to her students, her peers and to anyone she interacts with!
Beyond her mastery in math instruction and building a culture of confidence in the classroom...Becky establishes caring connections with students who have little trust in adults. She encourages, she challenges, she empowers but she never enables and maintains healthy boundaries which is essential for students who have few models of what that looks like.
Becky is an invaluable member of district math professional development sessions! And she's infectiously energetic!
Mrs. Harrison is an incredible human being all around. Her love and passion for her students and their success is obvious. I was blessed with the opportunity to be in her class many years ago and she was a constant unwavering source of support, tough love, and encouragement. She’s the kind of teacher that truly believes in your abilities, even when you don’t believe in yourself. I genuinely don’t believe I’d be where I am today without Mrs. Harrison’s influence. A life changer doesn’t come close to describing just how impactful she has been in the lives of many!
I don’t even know where to begin! Mrs. Harrison truly did change my life. I may not have given her the easiest time in high school but she never gave up on me and made sure I saw my potential! I made sure I was in at least one of her classes every year of high school, and once I was in college she still supported me! Even though a
I am bow in my late 20’s she is still cheering me on. She has a heart of gold and I cannot thank her enough for the role she had played in my life
It is an honor to work with Becky. She is a passionate supporter of Poudre High School; supportive of its students, staff, and programs. She speaks up when she observes a wrong that needs to be made right. She holds high expectations for herself and her students. She is kind, but firm. She demands much, but is fair. For these reasons, and many others, she is well-respected by her students and colleagues. Not only is she professional, but she is fun, and thus she is also well-liked. Students enjoy being with her and in the environment she creates in her classroom. She is a life changer.
As Becky's colleague, I admire Becky's passion for her students and her desire to develop pathways for students to be successful. She is a champion for all types of students and works with students in the most challenging situations. She enjoys learning about ways to make mathematics relevant to the lives of her students and continues to find ways to make mathematics interesting. She is engaged in making education better for students and is willing to try new approaches to improve her practice. The math department at PHS is lucky to have her pushing to improve mathematics education.
Mrs.Harrison is by far my most favorite teacher! She cares for everyone around her and even tho college wasn’t in my cards she encourage me to do my best no matter what it was! Love her!
Yes Yes YES! Becky doesn't just inspire her students, she inspires her colleagues as well. She is passionate about having her students be the mathematicians in the room and is expert at bringing that out in them, and she shares that passion with other teachers around her. Beyond the classroom dynamics, she is also instrumental in our building's movement towards more equitable grading practices because she knows that's what's best and most fair to the students. She thinks outside the box and when she knows she has an improvement to the system she pushes to make it happen. She has my unqualified vote for this honor!
I had Mrs. Harrison as my Algebra 2 teacher in high school and LOVED the class. I am now a math teacher and get to work alongside her, learning from her amazing teaching style! Such an inspiration to us all!
I have the pleasure of working with Becky and also got to see her teach a week or two ago. WOW! She has both command of the classroom, but also simultaneously empowers students. Students were attentive--in MATH CLASS!--and it was clear that she had systems and procedures in place to help the class run smoothly and for students to feel supported in their learning. It became obvious in a very short amount of time that she is a master teacher who knows her subject and students well.
Becky Harrison is an incredible human being. She cares deeply about her students and colleagues. She definitely goes above and beyond. She not only makes math exciting but also developed a math course for students interested in the medical field. She uses her off time to help students and prepares them for college. To know Becky is an honor! Her compassion and sparkling energy lights up every room. She has made such an impact on her students. She is the teacher they will remember forever because she changes lives!
Becky is an amazing professional. I teach in the physical education department, and witnessing Becky as a teacher in mathematics, I am amazed. She has incredible relationship building skills with her students and her content knowledge is top notch. She is an ambassador for mathematics and a quality person. Definately a life changer for a lot of students!
Becky has been such an amazing positive teacher for my son at Poudre. Not only do I get to work with her as an office staff memeber but I am also a parent of one of her students. My son has excelled in math and gained so much confidence because of her and her style. She is such an amazing educator and I truly appreciate her. Thank you Becky !
Becky has been such an influential person in my life. She was my mentor teacher for the last year of my bachelor's degree program. During that time, Becky taught me how to dig into the conceptual understanding of mathematics to give students a deeper understanding of the content. Beyond just the subject, Becky also showed me the importance of being a compassionate mentor and guide for students. Becky daily models what it means to be a life-long learner and truly deserves the title "Life Changer."
LifeChanger is the exactly the right words to call Becky Harrison. I have worked with her for many years. The job I have allows for me to hear from high school students on a daily basis. They tell me many things about their school day. One topic of conversation is teacher they have. Becky Harrison is always a favorite. Students tell me how she has helped them go from hating math to tolerance or even enjoying it. Often they speak about the energy and conversation in her classroom being a huge plus. My own sons had Becky as a teacher. She will always be one that they remember as a favorite through all of their school years. She made positive, friendly connections with them that will remain for years. I enjoy seeing Becky every day. She is funny. She is nice. She cares. Becky Harrison is truly a life changer.
As an individual who has had the opportunity to witness Becky's career from the onset; I cannot begin to express the passion she has brought to her craft and her students. As my personal inspiration she continually makes me examine how I can become better at my own job within the school district. I am continually astonished by the depth of Becky's compassion and generosity towards everyone in her profession from the teachers she works with everyday to the students she interacts with. Becky I am so proud of you and just want you to know you have already accomplished this goal of Life Changer a thousand times over. in every facet of your life. I am so proud of you.
Love and Admiration,
Brian
Thank you for being amazing!
