September 2024
Courtney Hixson, First Grade Teacher, Haverhill Elementary School
Nomination commentary from parent:
When I think of Mrs. Hixson, 1st grade teacher at Haverhill Elementary, a quote from Maya Angelou comes to mind. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Our daughter had such a special first grade experience with Mrs. Hixson as her teacher. What we observed over the past year was that Mrs. Hixson encourages each of her students to do their personal best and truly fosters the love for learning. She works to instill confidence in her young learners and it was very evident that our daughter learned to bravely try new things, even if that meant trying and making mistakes in the process. She made school safe and she created a warm and inclusive classroom environment. And her connections with her students are life long – even offering to be a pen pal over the summer with her students. When I ask my daughter what makes Mrs. Hixson so special, she says, “I don’t know. She just makes you feel good inside.” People will never forget how you make them feel. Thank you, Mrs. Hixson!