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Teacher
of The Year - Jan
Newell-Byrd
 My
name is Jan Newell-Byrd and I teach fifth grade
Communications at G. R. Whitfield School in the Pitt County
School District, Grimesland, North Carolina. I have a
succinct and simple philosophy comprised of two essential
prerequisites for excellence:
- A sincere love of
children and,
- A passionate desire to
make a positive difference in the lives of young people.
For the past forty-seven
years, my most significant contributions and accomplishments
in education have been to bring the world into the
classroom. I strive to go beyond the textbooks to provide
hands-on learning experiences from my students. Needless to
say, my classroom is seldom quiet. Children are free to work
independently, but generally we work cooperatively in
peer-group settings. Our classroom is student-centered
rather than teacher-centered, and students are encouraged to
take an integral part in the planning and implementation of
what goes on. I firmly believe that a child’s self-esteem is
just as important as the subject matter a student learns.
Developing an atmosphere of comfort, flexibility, and
freedom to explore and discuss together what is being taught
is essential in the learning environment. It is important to
me that my students understand there is no such thing as a
“dumb” question. Everyone is encouraged to ask questions for
clarification and comprehension without fear of ridicule,
sneers, or criticism. My students know that teachers are not
mind readers. I can’t help them learn unless they make me
aware they do not clearly understand what is being
communicated. Over the years, I have learned the question
asked by one student is often the same question other
students wanted answered, but did not ask out of fear of
embarrassment.
I believe that teachers must be firm and consistent in their
discipline. Without structure, organization, and clear
consequences, little learning and instruction can take place
in the classroom. However, I have found that teachers who
are kind, fair, and respectful of their students tend to
receive the same level of respect and cooperation in return.
I strive to be the kind of teacher I would want to have if I
were a child again.
Principals are vital links in the educational process of
children, and a teacher can rise no higher than the lead
administrator of the school. Therefore, I recognize that my
principal, Dr. Gloria Snead, and my assistant principal,
Kathy Riggs, are vital links to my success as a teacher in
the classroom. Their professionalism and encouragement
provide motivation and inspiration for me to reach higher
levels of accomplishments with my students. They encourage
the teachers in my school to form communication networks to
interact with other teachers through shared planning times.
When teachers within the same grades are able to come
together to talk on a regular basis about classroom
challenges, the outcomes are sometimes more beneficial than
designated in-service days.
No teacher is an island unto herself. She must learn to work
harmoniously and cooperatively with other staff for the
benefit of all students. I am also fortunate to be part of a
tremendous fifth grade team which consists of two other
teachers: Melvinna Wiggins (Math) and Paula Griffin (Science
and Social Studies). We are a diverse group in age,
ethnicity, and personality; yet we have learned to work
together as a smooth running teaching machine. We
continually strive to maintain a stimulating teaching
environment, reinforcing the high expectations set for
ourselves to achieve excellence in our performance as
professionals.
Parents are an essential link to students’ education, and I
have the greatest parents in the world. My parents are
encouraged to keep the lines of communication open through
various means: hand written notes, telephone calls, emails,
and by the use of my teacher website. Personal conferences
are readily available and arranged with flexible time
choices in mind for the benefit of working parents. They may
also make pop-in visits. My students and I are delighted to
have visitors join in with us at any time.
I retired from teaching in the public schools in 1995 to
become the Christian Education and Youth Ministry Director.
I worked with students from pre-K-12 in a church in Texas.
In 1999 I returned to the public realm.
During my many years in education, I have had the unique
pleasure to serve in a variety of capacities: as classroom
teacher, lead teacher for student teachers, curriculum
specialist/resource teacher, administrative intern, acting
assistant principal, principal of a mid-sized elementary
school for nearly seven years, Head Start Federal Program
Director, Christian Education Director, Youth Ministry
Director, and back to the public schools as a fifth grade
communications teacher. I have taught in a number of cities
and states including Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Gary,
Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Austin, and Round Rock,
Texas; and now in Pitt County, Grimesland, North Carolina at
G. R. Whitfield School.
In my spare time, I have begun writing my first book which
is an autobiography. It is my desire to have it completed
and ready for publication by the fall or winter of 2008.
Jan Newell-Byrd was born in Atlanta, Georgia, raised in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received her Masters degree in
Chicago, Illinois, lived in Gary, Indiana, Dallas and Round
Rock, Texas. She recently moved to Greenville, North
Carolina to be closer to her children and granddaughters.
She has three fine children: Sherm Wesley Newell, a
practicing attorney in Dallas, TX; Mark Anthony Newell, a
preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and trauma surgeon at
Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, NC; and Ronda Janis
Byrd, a computer/file technician in Jackson, Mississippi;
plus two marvelous grandchildren who are the joy of her
life: Morgan Alexis Newell, age 12 and Melani Alanna Newell,
age 8. Dana is her wonderful daughter- in- law, the wife of
Mark, the mother of her two grandchildren, and President and
CEO of her business.
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