Rural Middle School Teacher
Carrie Livengood, Tarkio R-I
Outstanding Rural Middle School Teacher
Carrie Livengood
Tarkio R-I School District
When you ask most students at Tarkio to describe Carrie Livengood, they use such words as funny, awesome, smart, organized, helpful, and encouraging. Mrs. Livengood is certainly one of the most dedicated teachers that you will ever have the chance to meet.
What does Carrie do? That is a loaded question because she does so much. Mrs. Livengood utilizes many communication techniques to communicate with students and parents. All assignments for the week are posted in the classroom and on the parent portal of the district student information system. She emails the assignments and dates of assessments to all parents by email. She is available to students and parents alike for help providing a study hall before and after school. She takes the extra step to ensure that students utilize her available time for tutoring, instead of simply offering the time to students.
As a math instructor, Carrie produces many hands on activities for students. When studying measurement, students do cookbooks and try recipes. Another of her many activities included making mobiles that had Christmas presents hanging them with each present representing types of numbers. Accepting the a new responsibility this year as A+ Coordinator has allowed her to provide assistance to students who are being tutoring for the A+ program.
Carrie’s colleagues describe her as a wonderful mentor. With her strength and compassion she is able to help new teachers get through those first few difficult years. She has the patience to answer questions, sometimes repeatedly, so others around her can succeed. Her room is a welcoming place to be, with all students knowing exactly where all of her classroom resources are because she is so organized. Looking for ways to vary instruction, all students are reached in a way that suits their learning styles.
Holding her students to high standards by continuously challenging them to solve problems and learn from their mistakes, a commitment to keeping parents informed, as well as being an invaluable staff member, makes it appropriate to congratulate Carrie Livengood as Missouri’s Outstanding Rural Middle School Teacher for 2012.