Oak Grove Teacher of the Year a 'cheerleader' for her students

It takes a big heart to shape little minds and lucky for the students at Oak Grove Elementary, one of their own teachers has a pretty large heart.

Oak Grove special education teacher Becky Ingle was selected to represent the building as its 2019-20 Teacher of the Year.

“Everyone needs someone to believe in them and to be their cheerleader,” Ingle said when recalling the moment she realized why God called her to teach.

While teachers always had a major impact on Ingle’s life, the profession was never at the top of her list growing up.

“About a month before I graduated from high school, I felt God calling me to be a teacher,” she said. “I wasn’t sure why He was leading me in that direction, but I knew without a doubt that He was.”

After graduation, Ingle was teaching Vacation Bible School at her church and was working with a young boy one-on-one helping him memorize a short Bible verse.

“He was a child that didn’t have the best home life, wasn’t always the cleanest, wasn’t always the best behaved and struggled academically,” Ingle said.

After working with the boy he was finally able to memorize the verse that had come so easily to others.

“I was so excited for him and I remember throwing up my arms and exclaiming, ‘You did it,’” she recalled. “At seeing my excitement and feeling the pride from his accomplishment, he beamed and wrapped his arms around me. At that moment, I knew why God had called me to teach.”

This type of personal teaching strategy is what Ingle’s fellow colleagues praised in her nomination letters.

“Becky goes above and beyond by doing anything to help her students be engaged and successful,” Oak Grove first grade teacher Abby Hanner said.

Ingle was described as a “master of individualizing instruction” for her students in and out of the SPED classroom.

“She supports and encourages each student to meet high expectations,” fellow SPED teacher Holly Shupe said in her nomination letter. “She provides a diverse classroom atmosphere with alternate seating arrangements and individualized instruction to make all feel successful.”

As Robert John Meehan said, Ingle also recognizes each child has a different learning style and pace as well as unique, not only capable of learning, but also succeeding.

“I have high expectations for them,” Ingle said. “If my students know that I have low expectations for them, then that is exactly what they will give me. I set a high, but attainable goal for them. When they reach it, we celebrate and then set another goal.”

Ingle added she knows her students can accomplish more than they realize.

“It is my job to help them reach their potential and their goals,” she said.

Being selected as Oak Grove’s Teacher of the Year is an honor for Ingle which she was surprised and humbled to receive.

“I am surrounded by excellent teachers at Oak Grove,” she said. “Seeing our students succeed is a team effort and we work together so well as a team that it is hard to see the award as an individual honor. I don’t feel like I shine more than anyone else on our team and I wouldn’t be the teacher I am without the encouragement and support of my coworkers.”

Ingle earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Southwest Baptist University in 2001.

After spending a year as a third grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary, she went to the Bernie School District from 2002-2017. Ingle then began with the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District in 2017.

To quote Magic Johnson, “All kids need is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them.” Ingle takes this phrase and uses it as her teaching philosophy.

“When my students walk into my room or see me around the school or in the community, I want them to know that they are one of the most important people in my life and are truly cherished,” she said. “It is amazing how much students can learn when they feel loved and know that as their teacher I am there to encourage them and to celebrate with them.”

Parents also recognize the love and support Ingle provides to all students who cross her path.

“Mrs. Ingle is very dedicated to her students, she is actively teaching children whom she freely offers love, acceptance and grace,” an Oak Grove mother said. “She teaches her students to strive for excellence, to love reading and to respect each other.”

In addition to helping a child academically, Ingle was also able to be there for the young boy in another way.

Ingle attended her student’s soccer game, which was noticed not only by the family, but the boy.

“I think Mrs. Ingle should be Queen of the Year,” one student wrote. “Her room has superheroes in it. I think she is really Wonder Woman.”