<br>Mrs. Watt<br>1st Grade AWC Class<br>Tatum Ridge Elementary<br>

You probably are wondering about the person who will be spending so much time with your child. This year marks my twenty-ninth of teaching, most of which has been spent in first grade. I feel privileged to teach the 1st Grade AWC class at Tatum Ridge.

Philosophy: Teaching is more than a profesion for me; it is a lifestyle. Even on my days off, I am busy planning and creating lessons that I hope will motivate and challenge my students. I truly believe that first grade forms the foundation for the remainder of a child's academic experiences. It's my desire to make sure that all of the students in my room feel safe, confident, and self-motivated to become all that they can be.

Degrees and Awards:

Bachelor of Arts, Warner University

Elementary Education

Christian Education

Music Education

Master's in Elementary Education: Nova University

Gifted Endorsement

ESOL Endorsement

Teacher of the Year: Phillippi Shores Elementary, 1999

Sarasota County Model Teacher since 1999

Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, 2005

National Board Certified Teacher/
Middle Childhood Generalist, 2005

Family Life:

My husband, Rick, is the senior pastor of Meadowland Church. I'm also actively involved there, playing the piano for the Sunday morning worship team and co-directing the children's ministry.

We have two fantastic (and a little crazy!) sons. Chris, our oldest, currently serves as the Youth Director at Meadowland. Philip attends USF where he is majoring in Elementary Education. He also works in Tatum's Morningcare and Aftercare programs. We're looking forward to a July wedding for Philip and his wonderful fiance, Jenna.