The growth a student can show from the beginning of the school year to the end can be vast when taken from a broad scope. It’s even more pronounced for kindergarteners, for whom almost everything is a new skill to soak in.
Karen Roelofs has been teaching kindergarten at Eagle Crest Charter Academy for more than 10 years and the transformation still amazes her. The children arrive in her classroom not knowing letters, sounds, how to walk in line or get along with others. But by the end of the school year, the social, emotional, and academic difference are enormous.
“For some of them, this the first time interacting with a lot of kids,” she said. “I keep telling myself ‘One of these years, I need to videotape what the first day of school looks like to the end,’ and it's a huge difference.”
Roelofs was named an Excellence in Teaching winner this year as part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) Excellence Awards. She has been at Eagle Crest since 2005, starting as a paraprofessional and teaching Young 5s and first grade before moving to kindergarten.
The community feel that Roelofs had heard of through friends is still present at Eagle Crest, which has outperformed the district for 16 years. She said the collaboration the kindergarten team exhibits is a tribute to continuity.
“We each have different strengths to bring to the team, so we work really well together and bounce ideas off of each other,” she said. “It’s more than just a coworker relationship; it has become friendship as well.”
No matter the circumstance, working in pairs or as a group, Roelofs said her team is flexible. They are able to provide a push for students who need a challenge or use additional resources for those who might need a boost.
These kindergarteners are a long way from high school, but the foundation they receive in Roelofs’ class is the first step they take in succeeding academically and, eventually, professionally through the confidence they build.
“It’s definitely a team effort,” she said. “I can put it out there, but without them working hard, I can’t make them be successful, so it’s definitely a group effort.”
Keep up the excellent work, Mrs. Roelofs!
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About Eagle Crest Charter Academy
Eagle Crest Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Holland, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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