Lorna Harris
I am an AACPS: Fourth Grade Teacher, Point Pleasant Elementary | 22-23 Rising Star
We are excited to spotlight Lorna Harris. Lorna Harris is a 22-23 Rising Star Teacher.
Ms. Harris was nominated by the school’s principal, Christopher Gordon. The Point Pleasant Elementary School Fourth Grade teacher is a Towson University alum.
We had an opportunity to talk with Lorna about being recognized as a Rising Star Teacher.
Here are a few highlights of the conversation:
Describe who you are in 5 words or less.
What was your motivation to go into education?
When I was going through my program in graduate school, and even when I was student teaching in the classrooms, I noticed that a lot of people didn’t quite look like me in the program or even in the classrooms. So one of my motivations was to be that person that a student could look up to, one who looks like me would say, OK, Miss Harris can do that. I can do it too.
What would you tell your future self about your potential as an educator?
What one thing do you love about working in your school?
With my school I definitely love having the support of our administration. We have a very supportive administration and there’s a lot of collaboration between the staff. If you need anything, there’s always someone willing to help.
What is your favorite memory of your family and friends supporting you on your journey as an educator?
My students were doing a fundraiser and they really wanted to win. I texted my friends and my family and I said my classroom was trying to reach the goal and they were able to meet the moment. I remember coming in and telling my students, and we celebrated.
Thinking about the future of education, what are you most excited about for schools?
What is one hidden talent you have that no one, or few people, knows about and would surprise them?
I think people would be surprised that I love to solve logic puzzles like Sudoku. I like to sit in a nice quiet room at the end of the day and get my Sudoku book out and solve logic puzzles.
If you had to make a time capsule about this year as a rising star teacher and you had to include an item, an image, a quote and a song/melody, what would you include?
When we have our community building circle we use a talking piece, ours as a stuffed animal. So I think that would be the item. The image would probably be the rising sun. It just feels like a new day and I’m excited. A quote would be from Ben Franklin, he says, “Tell me and I’ll forget. Teach me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll learn.” There’s this country song called “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts. There is lyric that I absolutely love in the song that says “there’s no load that I can’t hold and no road that I don’t know. I’ll be there when the light comes. Just tell them we are survivors.”
What is one reason why someone should choose to become a teacher?
Louis Nesbitt, PDM Department
The journey of an educator is a lifetime. We are thankful to those who have chosen to embark on this path. As a community, one of our greatest capacities is availability, so when the opportunities arise, find your own way to support education.
