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Webb happy to be back at Snook Elementary
with focus on building student relationships
By JENNY TWITCHELL
jenny. twitchell@theeagle.com
When Sarah Webb started
teaching at Snook El-
ementary a year and a
half ago, she wasn't just looking
forward to educating young lives.
She was excited to come "home."
Webb attended elementary
school in Snook up until fourth
grade while both her parents were
educators there. Now she's teach-
ing reading, writing and social
studies to fourth graders in the
town she loves.
"That's what drew me here —
being in my hometown and help-
ing out the place where I grew up,"
Webb said. "I love giving back to
my community. It's exactly how I
thought it would be — parents care
about their kids, they're wonder-
ful, most want their kids to learn,
and the staff is great. It's kind of
full circle — coming home. I feel
like I'm really needed here and
that I'm making a true difference."
Teaching in Snook may have
been her dream, but it also comes
with challenges that Webb said
she feels equipped and excited
to handle. As of last year, about
75 percent of Snook Elementary
students were considered economil
cally disadvantaged, compared to
the district's 69 percent, and it's
just since 2016 that the school tran-
sitioned from being an Improve-
ment Required Campus to one that
is meeting state standards.
"Snook for a while was an
Improvement Required Cam-
pus, but we have worked really
hard to change that," said Shari
Hedstrom, Snook Elementary
See WEBB, Page A4
� r �
APPRECIATION
Eagle photo by Dave McDermand
Snook Elementary teacher Sarah Webb says
her philosophy is that if the students know she
cares about them, then they will respond much
better educationally.
Editor's note: In recognition of National
Teacher Appreciation Month, The Eagle will
be profiling area teachers throughout the
month of May. If you would like to suggest
a teacherfor a future profile, email news@
theeagle.com.
SUNDRY
May 12, 2019
$3.00
end student activitie
Makes apoint tO a� en es, but Webb
wEBB
but it's one of those things graduate high school in goes above and beyond
that if you showed up to four short years," Webb o make the children feel
ou're still that e id. "H of a student wis the perfect ho welcome and special.
principal. "We have been one that showed up, "I feel how much she
very successful the last needed to know I cared cares about her students
few years. [Webb] has who cares about things before he could learn the — it's genuine — it's in
been able to bring consis- outside of school," Webb lessons I was trying to how she looks at them,
tency in that fourth grade said. "That's kind of the teach him."
consistency biggest part of a relation- One of Webb's current how she speaks to them.
classroom — ship to me, that they know She speaks to them, not at
in reading, consistency students, J Scrihas t e them," Miranda Scritch-
ih writing — and has re- they matter." said that Webb has the
ally taken the lead there Webb has been teaching field said. "She commun s
among all the teachers in for 10 years since graduat- and serious. ability to beWhen asked cates so well with parents.
classes. Not only do the ing from Texas A&M Uni- what makes her a good s you have any concern,
teacher, Scritchfield re- she immediately says,
kids love her, but she has versity. She's also taught `Let's meet, what time is
been able to step into a in Hempstead and Bryan. sponded, "Her personality good for your She always
leadership role with the When she was teaching to say the most."no
staff as well." second grade in Bryan, Scritchfield's mother, gets right back to me, en
Webb said many chil- she had a student with Miranda, said that it takes matter if it's the weekend
mverent difficulties, which a special person to choose or at night. She's a teacher
dren deal with unstable severe emotional adjust- to teach in Snook because beyond 4 p.m."
home lives or burdens resulted in screaming
from home. It can be diffi _ cult to help those students fusal t follow dirviolent outbursts er ons.
reach academic g that Webb struggled to see eye
it's Webb's philosophy to eye with the student.
if the students know she It wasn't until halfway
cares about them, then they will respond much through the first semester
better educationally when she began to have
"The biggest thin him about his likes conversationsne
my students is to
relationships with them and dislikes and having
and get to know themeir lunch with learn that he aared
connect learning to about him as a person.
lives if at all possible,
After that, even though he
Webb said. "I let them
know that they are impor- still had behavior issues,
tant, that they're not their he knew Webb was inthe rest s
scores. I care about them corner. Duringin the
as a person and not as a schoolof his , would frequent -
test score." As much as she can, ly visit her and help her in Z
nd now that he is in
Webb is attending her stu- class, grade,
eighth ade she still go'S
sporting
dents' soccer games, Little events, has
League, dance recitals or to his rwith th
thfamily and
Little Dribblers games.
"So, I always tell the s iaic]ose this mom. "He is and will always
kids, `Give me your sched- be one of my babies, and
„tP• T want to see you play.' _,< __i+ +n watch him
Continued from Al