Orion Oaks Principal Brian Kaplan was on hand to honor Katie Barney at the School Board meeting last Wednesday. He began his speech with words from English novelist William Arthur Ward.
‘A mediocre teacher tells, a good teacher explains, a superior teacher demonstrates but a great teacher insipres,? Kaplan quoted, adding ‘and Katie Barney is that great teacher.?
Barney is a fifth grade teacher at Orion Oaks Elementary. She’s in her thirteenth year with the district and has been at Orion Oaks since it opened.
‘I tell the kids I’ve been here since before carpet,? Barney joked.
She was selected as Teacher of the Year from among her collegues at all seven elementary schools in the district for her success as a teacher and her committment to education.
Barney joins LOHS’s Stan Ford and Oak View Middle School’s Caroline Thompson in the county-wide running for Oakland County’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced May 7.
Originally from West Bloomfield, Barney currently lives in Rochester with her husband. The couple has three grown daughters. The teacher of the year graduated from Marian High School, attended Northern Michigan and Western Michigan University, and received her master’s degree from Oakland.
Barney says her success comes from looking at each student as a whole and not simply trying to teach a lesson.
‘The most important thing is listen as much as you talk. You have to go beyond the lesson,? Barney said.
The mutual respect she and her students share opens up communication and provides an appropriate climate for learning.
Kaplan admires Barney for her ability to make every child feel special and valued. She teaches that learning can be fun, and enables students to take ownership in their learning.
‘She serves as a mentor, teacher, leader and friend,? Kaplan said.
Barney’s nominators, colleague Susan Dandalides and student Andrew Lorant, note her attention to current pedagogy.
‘Katie has in- depth knowledge of the curriculum and theoretical understanding to implement the district, state, and national components of our curriculum,? Dandalides said. ‘She can evaluate new ideas as they compare to current pedagogy and incorporate ideas that add value.?
‘School isn’t boring in her classroom. She finds new ways to teach. She’s never unfair to students and is always very kind. She is patient with all her students,? Lorant said.
In addition to classroom work, Barney helped the fifth graders start up their own school store. The proceeds – over $1,000 so far – will help pay for their class trip at the end of the year.
‘Katie’s development of a school store provides fifth grade students an opportunity to practice math skills and make business decisions.?
She’s also on the school’s talent show committee and the district’s social studies committee. And she’s given her time and talents to mentor new teachers.
Barney is very pleased with her spot amongst her fifth grade students as they transition from elementary school to middle school. The class content – English, social studies, reading – is especially interesting. Barney says she and her students are able to get into some ‘meaty? conversations.
‘The kids are old enough to have a sense of humor and still young enough to have sweet innocense,? Barney said. ‘They are great, honest little people, eager to do a really good job.?