Bonita Webb has been going above and beyond to support her students for more than 20 years, which is one of the many reasons why the Kent School District named her the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year in Kent.

“Students do not learn from teachers with whom they do not have a connection,” Webb said in a district news release. “Finding connections with even the most introverted student helps foster academic growth. I make sure they know I believe in them, that we can do it together, and then they can do it on their own.”

Webb, an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher at Meridian Middle School, started teaching in the district in 1991 and has since taught at Cedar Heights, Mattson and Northwood middle schools. She played an important role in opening the ELL center at Cedar Heights and helps train new teachers as part of the Washington Education Association and University of Washington’s Culturally Responsive Teacher Series collaboration.

Superintendent Calvin J. Watts surprised Webb with the award during a virtual meeting on Feb. 25 and thanked her for building relationships with her students and their families to support students’ academic growth as well as their social and emotional needs.

Webb partners with families in their student’s education and supports them with everything from completing reduced lunch forms to providing homework help in the evenings and home visits. Webb goes above and beyond to ensure her student’s families have the support they need.

“English language learners connect to academic instruction through their lived experience,” Webb said. “I constantly help students make connections between their lived experience and the grade level academic standards in English, math, science and social studies.

“I take pride in learning about my students, their families and where they come from. Often my students are the caregiver and academic liaison for their younger siblings. Once parents are home and my student is afforded time to concentrate on their studies, I make myself available to meet with them in the evening to connect, reinstruct and complete work.”

Webb actively listens responds to their needs, and celebrates the academic achievements and personal successes of her students to help them feel wanted and welcome in her classroom. Even during remote learning, she has continued to create an environment where there is time for students to socialize, connect and feel included in a community.

“I work diligently to encourage my students to become a school family where they understand and support one another,” Webb said. “I strive to make sure that all my students feel included and welcomed each day.”

At the end of each week, Webb invites student to drop-in to her virtual classroom to watch a movie and socialize with their classmates. She said they discuss what they liked about the movie and connect it to their own lives and what they’re learning. This leads to students opening up and sharing about their lives in a way that’s not always possible in remote learning.

Meridian Middle School Principal Darice Johnson said Webb also collaborates with other teachers and staff at Meridian to ensure they’re working together to provide the best support possible for each and every student.

“Working in a high-needs school with a diverse population requires special skills,” Johnson said in Webb’s nomination form. “Mrs. Webb understands how the social and emotional needs of students are just as important to nurture and cultivate as their academics.”

Webb was chosen from among 42 schools in the district that teach approximately 27,000 students from more than 100 countries and speaking over 135 languages.

Each year the district sends a nomination form to schools for students, parents and staff to nominate a teacher. Each school determines its own selection process and then forwards its top candidate to a committee that includes Kent Education Association members, Human Resources leadership and previous teacher of the year winners to determine the new teacher of the year.