Learn from everybody

Each school year, Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) holds nominations to recognize one teacher and one staff member. Those nominations are filled with staff and teachers that, for one reason or another, are selected by their peers.

For the 2019/2020 school year, current 6th grade teacher Stephanie Long was among those nominated and was, ultimately, awarded.

"The first week of summer, I think, I got a call from Noel Manning. He called me and said that I had been nominated. That was the bee's knees just to be nominated. Then, when he said I was chosen, I cried," said Long. "There's awesome educators and so it was just really humbling to be recognized."

Long, who was awarded Teacher of the Year, and Andi Ward, who was awarded Staff Member of the Year, were joined in the nominations by Mary George, Jackie Jones and Sarah Jones of Hanna Elementary School; Bekcy Kruesel of Encampment K-12 School; Sue Malone, Wendy Lund and Marissa Palm of Saratoga Elementary School; Courtney Priest of Medicine Bow Elementary School; and Michelle McWain, Zach Schmidt and Lesley Urasky of Saratoga Middle High School.

Long has been with Saratoga Elementary School for three years. Her first two years, she taught 3rd grade and has assumed the role of 6th grade teacher for the 2020/2021 school year. Prior to her time in Saratoga, however, Long taught kindergarten in Rawlins.

"Honestly, when I taught kindergarten I thought I would never go higher than 2nd grade and then this 3rd grade position came open. We wanted to move over here just for our family, the lifestyle that's around here. We love it here," Long said. "I taught 3rd grade for two years and I absolutely loved it and then it was brought up to me to move up to 6th grade. There's a lot of things that I learned in the kindergarten age and the 3rd grade age that still really apply to 6th graders."

Though 6th graders are the top of the "food chain" at Saratoga Elementary School, Long has found that they still need nurturing and structure. Additionally, Long says that the high energy from the 6th graders reminds Long of her time teaching kindergarten.

"They're so full of life. There's 24 in the classroom, I have 25 total. They have lots to say and you're moving around," said Long.

All together, Long has taught for 12 years and credits the teachers she worked with through the years for serving as a mentor at one time or another.

"When I found out I won, I had thanked all the teachers that I've been with for my first year teaching because, even if they weren't my mentor, they were my mentor in some way. They helped me grow and learn and I was very thankful for that," Long said. "Just like with your students it takes a whole village, it takes a whole village to make great teachers, too. I just had a really good community of teachers throughout my teaching career."

Despite all the various teachers Long has worked with, there is one teacher that stands out when she thinks of the award and who had inspired her.

"My 3rd grade teacher, her name is Mrs. Hughson. When we're asked, 'think of your favorite teacher and what she did and you put that into your own classroom with your own students', I think of her. She's been in my life ever since the 3rd grade," said Long. "She came to my wedding."

Though a week had passed since Long was presented with her award when the Saratoga Sun sat down with her, Long was still obviously overcome with emotion. As she thought about the nomination, the teachers she has worked with and Mrs. Hughson, her eyes welled up with tears. According to Long, when she was presented with the award in front of the whole school on August 11, she felt a little embarrassed. 

A sign of humility for a teacher who credits those who taught her.

"You learn from everybody. You learn what you want to do and learn what you want to not do."