2023 Rising Star at Brooklyn Park Elementary – Rebecca Meyer – Business and Community Development @ AACPS

Rebecca Meyer

I am an AACPS: Kindergarten Teacher, Brooklyn Park Elementary | 22-23 Rising Star

We are excited to spotlight Rebecca Meyer. Rebecca Meyer is a 22-23 Rising Star Teacher.

Ms. Meyer was nominated by the school’s principal, Rodney Walker. The Brooklyn Park Elementary School Kindergarten teacher is a Salisbury University alum.

We had an opportunity to talk with Rebecca 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.

This one was one of the hardest ones because I like to talk a lot. Five words that I came up with are passionate, kinds, and then kid at heart.

What was your motivation to go into education?

I used to babysit a lot. I always wanted to be around kids. I always thought they were awesome and then I got into child development classes and I loved being able to teach the preschool there. I loved getting to learn about the background and the development of kids, and I love being able to go through the teaching cycle.

What would you tell your future self about your potential as an educator?

This one is one of those that this would make me maybe tear up a little bit because this year has been a really challenging year in a lot of ways. I remember a couple of years ago I was just thinking to myself , how do teachers teach a class where the students and the teacher don’t share a common language? This year, four of my kids didn’t speak any English coming into the school year, and it has been one of the coolest things ever to bring back Spanish from my high school days and to teach them English and to see the camaraderie of my students who know English and Spanish and who know English and who knows Spanish. Just seeing how they work together, they’re growing and they’re learning and it’s so inspiring to sit back and watch.

What one thing do you love about working in your school?

I love Brooklyn Park and I want to stay here for a while. Everyone here is supportive and respects one another. You are supported, trusted, and respected as an educator.

What is your favorite memory of your family and friends supporting you on your journey as an educator?

They listen to every funny story and I tell them every challenging day that I have. They listen to everything. They come back and say, oh, is this the kid that did this. I really feel heard.

Thinking about the future of education, what are you most excited about for schools?

So I think that coming off of COVID, I think a lot of people now are understanding the importance of children’s education in their first five years. So now when they’re coming into school, we focus on social, emotional skills, trauma, and informed teaching.

What is one hidden talent you have that no one, or few people, knows about and would surprise them?

I love to get involved with people’s like bridal showers and baby showers. I like to plan them. I’m the game master for these type of events.

If you had to make a time capsule about this year as rising star teacher and you had to include an item, an image, a quote and a song/melody, what would you include?

My kids had a big writing unit. They were so excited that they finished and were so proud of their work. They asked Ms. Meyer “can you please take a picture of us?” So that picture for sure. My quote, I always go to “everything happens for a reason.” I think that if something happens that’s good or bad or anything in between, I can always like, OK, that happened for a reason. I love my girl Taylor Swift, so I think that I my song would be, “Shake it off” because if we have anything crazy, we just shake it off. It’s my kids favorite, go noodle.

What is one reason why someone should choose to become a teacher?

I think that people should be a teacher because you really get to make an impact every day on someone’s life and you really are the agent of a change and they’re going to remember you. You are dinner table conversation at night. Their families will know you.

Louis Nesbitt, PDM Department

LNesbitt@aacps.org

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.

Creating opportunities to expand resources and support AACPS

Rebecca Meyer

I am an AACPS: Kindergarten Teacher, Brooklyn Park Elementary | 22-23 Rising Star

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2023 Rising Star at Brooklyn Park Elementary – Rebecca Meyer