Special Education teacher Jaime Wright won Teacher of the Year for Nixa Public Schools. When she was nominated, she wasn’t sure if it was true. 

Junior Addison Hutton said that Wright is the comfort teacher she goes to during STAR classes. Despite not having her on her 5th hour roster, Hutton is always there. 

“I think [that] out of a lot of teachers, she really deserves it,” Hutton said. “She works really hard, and she works one-on-one with students very well… she gets to know them, rather than us as students, but as family.”

Wright has been teaching for six years. Before becoming a teacher, she was a paraprofessional. When she interviewed and applied for this position, she said she fell in love with the SPED world.

“[It’s] just the interactions with the kids,” Wright said. “I’m a little sarcastic and… have some dry humor, and they get it. If they’re having… a rough day, I can kind of… throw a joke out there, say some slang… make them smile a little bit. Or they’ll just roll their eyes at me.”

She wanted to work with high school students and liked being able to help them with all subjects. With an agenda posted, students know what to expect each day they walk into class. She employs the methods of repetition and scaffolding. 

   “I try to go from a lot of support in the beginning to more independent,” Wright said. “But then I like… to do a lot of immediate feedback type activities… when I can.  So any time I can [I] do an activity on the computer… when you type in the answer, they get it right, or wrong, immediately. They’re asking questions, as opposed to just doing work without knowing they’re doing it right, or not.”

Wright can teach students from 9th to 12th grade. Though the majority are sophomores and juniors, she has had more seniors compared to other years.

“It’s sad,” Wright said. “I’m having my own daughter graduate this year, but I’m feeling more emotional about the kids that I’ve had, and I tell all the ones that are graduating this year… ‘Find me at graduation, because I’ll be there.’ “

Wright said she will apply for regional teacher of the year.  “Coming to work every day, trying to make an impact on the kids and interacting with them; I just feel like I’m doing a job that I love,” Wright said. “I don’t feel like I do anything special, if that makes sense.”