In September, the first H.O.P.E. Award was given for the school year. H.O.P.E. stands for Honoring Outstanding Professional Educators. All high school staff members are eligible for this award, and the recipient chosen must demonstrate the characteristic(s) for the specific theme of that month.
September’s H.O.P.E Award, with the theme kindness and compassion, was given to Mrs. Maria Porter. Students vote on who should receive the honor and Porter received the most votes and positive evaluations. She was recognized at the October school board meeting and had several students say many kind words about her.
Porter was very touched and honored to win the award. ”I really do put my heart and soul into my job and to realize that my kids notice that effort and realize how much I do care about them—not only as students but as kids—just warms my heart,” Porter said. “It is the best type of paycheck that a teacher can get.”
Porter also added that she tries to attack each day with a new attitude and tries to remember that everyone is dealing with something that we don’t always get to see.
“A little bit of kindness, even something as simple as a smile, does wonders and if I can be the person who makes someone smile or lets them know that they are loved and cared about, that is what I want to be,” Porter said.
Porter doesn’t go to work every day to teach history and leave; she goes to make a difference and tries to let her students know that her door is always open.
“To be honored with the H.O.P.E. Award means the world to me, but I would not be the teacher that I am if I did not get to work with so many wonderful students every single day,” Porter said. “I am who I am in the classroom because of the students at FHS.”