1. Nominator's Name: Amber Marion
Mentor Teacher Name: Beth Csiszer
School Name: Hunter Street Elementary School
Mrs. Csiszer has been an amazing mentor and role model since the first time I walked in her
classroom. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such a gifted teacher.
From the beginning, Mrs. Csiszer has been completely supportive of my decisions and my
teaching. She is constantly telling me that I can try whatever methods of teaching I would like;
all she cares about is that "the students are learning." She has always been open to and even
asks for new ideas from my classes at Winthrop. She has treated me as her co-worker and as an
equal, rather than a student or an intern, and has made me already feel like a true teacher at
Hunter Street Elementary. Her confidence in me has tremendously improved my confidence in
myself and in my teaching; she has never second-guessed me or my decisions. Not only has she
been fully supportive of my decisions, but she has consistently asked for my input about her
decisions regarding the students in the classroom. She is always asking for a second opinion
about her thoughts of best practice for her students (even though her ideas and hunches are
usually right on point). She truly has the students' best interest at heart. Open communication
with Mrs. Csiszer has been a huge reason for my success as an intern. She has always made me
feel comfortable to ask questions, call her, email her, etc. at any time. She always discussed her
plans for teaching with me before she taught and gave me multiple reasons as to why each
lesson she taught was important for the students to learn. She could always give reasoning
behind all of her actions in the classroom, and she really helped me to understand a lot of
things about teaching that I had never really had experience with prior to this internship. Mrs.
Csiszer helped me understand and learn how to break down test scores, such as MAP Testing
results, to analyze each student's changing levels of achievement. She taught me how to use
this data to divide students for small group instruction for specific skills students needed to
practice. In the classroom, I was always learning a new way to teach content or handle personal
issues with individual students from Mrs. Csiszer's examples. Before leaving school just about
EVERY day, she would always ask me, "Is there anything I can do to help you?" and "Do you
have any questions about anything?" I had the opportunity to see Mrs. Csiszer work
collaboratively with many other teachers and faculty at the school, such as Ms. Hullender, the
Resource teacher and Ms. Gupton, the Assistant Principal; Mrs. Csiszer always included me in
these conversations with co-works so that I was always aware of what was going on in the
classroom and in the school. Throughout the school year, Mrs. Csiszer went above and beyond
to help me, other co-workers, and most importantly, her students. She maintained a positive,
calm, and collected attitude on a daily basis, despite the many difficulties and struggles with
students in her classroom. She is at school early every day and stays long after the bell to plan.
She was a great example of showing how hard work and dedication produces results for
student achievement. There is data to prove this for her class!! Mrs. Csiszer was an amazing
mentor and friend, and any intern would be lucky to have her guidance. She always gave me
and everyone else all she had, and just when you thought she had nothing else to give, she
would give more and do something even more extraordinary than everything she had already
done. I'm not sure how I am going to get through my first teaching job without her being there,
but I know I would not have made it through this internship without her guidance and support.
In my opinion, she is completely worthy all three awards being given.