Judy Mahoskey took a variety of courses in college, but when she enrolled in an education class, she discovered her teaching passion. She said she loved planning lessons as part of the curriculum.
"It was something I could do forever," she said.
In May, Mahoskey, a sixth-grade teacher at Liberty Elementary in Murray, was one of six Utah educators who received the Huntsman Awards for Excellence in Education.
"It feels nice that people recognize that I’m working hard and that I’m trying my best," she said. "It also feels kind of embarrassing because I know so many fabulous teachers."
Going into her 30th year of teaching at Liberty means she might be gaining more students whose parents were in Mahoskey’s class years ago.
"I’m teaching kids of kids I had," she said. "It’s like, I know your moms and dads, and I live in the neighborhood."
She said she wants kids to connect ideas and see the relevance. For example, a history lesson on the Holocaust is tied to today’s bullying issues.
"I very rarely use textbooks," she said. "What I do is constructed as teaching for understanding, not just for the output, and I would much rather do five problems than a whole page."
Mahoskey’s rule is to treat the students fairly and let them have a voice. She said she doesn’t want to be authoritative, but she wants to create structure and let the kids make their own decisions.
"What I think makes her a great teacher is she shows us techniques that we want to learn," said Carly Sandoval, a student of Mahoskey’s. "She teaches and she has fun with it, so we’re having fun and learning at the same time."
-
Woman charged with felony animal torture for killing dog with insecticide
Published Jun 18, 2013 10:19:03PM -
Husband charged with abusing sick wife
Published Jun 18, 2013 10:01:02PM -
NSA director says plot against Wall Street foiled
Published Jun 18, 2013 09:59:03PM -
Briefs from Tribune news services
Published Jun 18, 2013 09:54:03PM
Mahoskey has a great concern when it comes to funding for school, especially because Liberty Elementary is a Title I school, which means it receives federal funding because a high percentage of the students come from low-income families.
"I can tell you when I first started, we got $12 per student per year to buy supplies," she said. "That amount has not changed in 29 years."
She’s also concerned with the lack of time that elementary teachers have to develop and plan. She said the teachers at her school get to meet once a week for 45 minutes.
"If I could redo the school system, I would make it longer and give teachers more time to think and plan," Mahoskey said. "We’re always, always on the run."
She said she envisions the school as a community center with activities such as school nights for parents, but the resources are lacking.
"Education is the great equalizer; if parents had better education and better opportunities, they could be better for their kids," she said. "I want to scream when I hear legislators say there’s no more money for education."
In the meanwhile, Mahoskey said she will stay up at nights on the computer trying to introduce new concepts to her students.
"I want to train them to be thinkers and doers," she said. "All teachers want to go in inspiring kids to be everything they can be."
She also wants to instill a sense of responsibility.
"I tell them, when I’m old and gray, you’re the ones running the country," Mahoskey said.
She called herself a "cheapskate" and said she doesn’t know what she’ll do with the $10,000 that came with the Huntsman honor.
"I’m really lucky in that I’m not desperate for anything, but I can’t imagine spending it," she said.
Next Page >Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
