Middle School Teacher named Rookie Teacher of The Year
January 28, 2016
Muller Road Middle School teacher Katie Tyczynski has been named the 2016 Rookie Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). She will be recognized and receive a plaque at the S.C. CEC Conference in Myrtle Beach next month.
In their nomination of Ms. Tyczynski, Principal Sean Bishton, school psychologist Carolyn Traylor and teacher specialist Denise Webster said, “Despite the relatively short time she has been in the classroom, she presents as a confident teacher with a passion for helping her students to become as independent as possible.”
Her nominators went on to praise her motivation, problem-solving skills, sound judgment and creative approaches to activities and techniques in the classroom. Ms. Tyczynski teaches a self-contained class, and most of her students are diagnosed with special needs and need a strict structure to be successful as they learn new skills. Classes focus on independence, academics and functional life skills.
Ms. Tyczynski said the win was a surprise. “I was so thrilled to find out with my students and instructional assistants in the same room. They are the reason I strive to be the best teacher I can be. I work with a wonderful team of caring individuals who help me and our students every day,” she said.
Ms. Tyczynski joined the Richland Two family three years ago. Muller Road is her first teaching assignment. She has a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education and Special Education at the State University of New York SUNY at Fredonia and a master’s degree in Special Education from Canisius College, where she interned with the Institution for Autism Research.
The South CarolinaCouncil for Exceptional Children is a collaborative community of professionals who are the voice and vision of special education in South Carolina. Its mission is to improve the educational outcomes and quality of life of individuals with exceptionalities and their families through the actions of professionals, advocates, and other agencies. Nominees for Rookie Teacher of the Year must have been a classroom teacher for less than five years. He or she must show promise as an exceptional educator who is meeting the needs of students and who is developing professional expertise and leadership abilities.
