Teacher of the Month: Rebecca Kobold
By Cheryl Thompson, Special to the Daily Press
Kindergarten teacher from Apple Valley is honored at VVC Hall of Fame
Rebecca Kobold, kindergarten teacher at the Academy for Academic Excellence, received the Victor Valley College Distinguished Service in Education Award on Jan. 28.
Kobold was nominated becasue her passion for teaching children touches lives. As a kindergarten teacher, she is aware of the need to prepare children for school and founded the successful Knights-in-Training Kindergarten Readiness Program, which is in its second year.
Parents and pre-school children attend monthly workshops and are given curriculum that promote emotional, academic, and behavior readiness skills. Kobold is available at any time to parents that have questions regarding school readiness.
Building partnerships with other businesses that enhance the educational experience is another of Kobold's strenghts. Trout in the Classroom, a California Department of Fish and Game program, is an example of hands-on education where students study trout by hatching the eggs and daily charting their progress until the day comes they release the now grown trout at the Fish and Game hatchery.
Another partnership is with PJ's Pals Reading Dogs, a group of registered reading therapy dogs, that come to school and provide a wonderful reading audience allowing children to build confidence.
Kobold oversees the K-2 Science Fair, encouraging students to learn the scientific method. Parents are valuable partners in the classroom, volunteering daily.
Kobold's excellence in education extends to before and after school. Before the school day begins, she provides a warm, encouraging learning environment for students to succeed on an individual basis.
After school, Kobold is one of the leaders for the Student Run Los Angeles (SRLA) marathon, coaching and running alongside middle and high school students at the Acadmy for Academic Excellence. A long-term commitment of several months is needed until the final 26.2 mile race in Los Angeles.
"Teaching today's students to attain the skills necessary for success in school that promotes positive, emotional, academic and behavioral growth, is one of the reasons why I chose the teaching profession," said Kobold.
Many parents, students, and staff are glad she did.
Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2006