Oakdale Elementary School Teacher Joins an Exclusive group

 kindergarten teacher Theresa Thao-Yang was part of an exclusive group of teachers in the state nominated for Education Minnesota’s 2012 Teacher of the Year Award.

Although she isn’t on the finalist list, being among only 111 nominees in the state is an accomplishment in itself.

Oakdale Elementary principal Peter Mau likened a great teacher to a symphony conductor and lauded Yang's ability to get the best from her students through "her skills in instruction, engagement, relationship building, high expectations and community building." 

Oakdale Patch sat down with Yang to talk about teaching, her typical day and teaching Spanish to Hmong students. 

Oakdale Patch: How did you get into teaching?

Theresa Thao-Yang: I got into teaching mainly because I had great teachers who influenced me. They impacted my life in such a big way. They helped me become a learner. I also wanted to be in a position to help kids.

Oakdale Patch: Are you a product of Minnesota?

Yang: Nope. I’m from California. Growing up in California, we lived in a city where my family and I were the only minorities. That was hard. But having teachers who believed in me and pushed me and motivated me really helped.

Oakdale Patch: How has the demographic of your classroom changed since you started six years ago?

Yang: There is a lot more diversity now. When I was growing up as an ELL (English Language Learner) student there weren’t a lot of accommodations; I was just constantly being pulled out of class. But now I see a lot more inclusion. The aides that work in my classroom know my kids really well and we’re very open about any extra help that is needed.

Oakdale Patch: Who nominated you for Teacher of the Year?

Yang: The person who nominated me was a parent of a former student. I found out about the nomination during Thanksgiving week. I got a packet in the mail and I had no idea what it was. So I opened it and saw her nomination letter. I was really touched by all the great things she said.

Oakdale Patch: What does it mean to you to be nominated?

Yang: It’s a great honor. As a teacher you just always have to be in it for the kids. For all the hard work we do, people don’t always fully appreciate the effort teachers put in. So for a parent to acknowledge that and tell me that I’ve done a great job with their child really is a great honor.

Oakdale Patch: What is your typical day like?

Yang: It’s very busy, especially with 24 kindergartners! I’m usually here around 7:45 and spend the first part of the day just getting things ready. Then kids start arriving around 8:40. We start off with a morning meeting that allows me to build the community piece.

After morning meeting we have word work, which lets them work on reading skills and blending sounds. After that, we have writers workshop. Right now we’re working on small moment stories, which are true stories from their lives that incorporate a beginning, middle and end.

Next month we’ll be working on how-tos and nonfiction five-senses work. Right now we’re working on putting our end product together. We’re going to making a book on each of the five senses. 

After that, they usually go out for recess and have lunch. After lunch we finish up writing and then we have reader’s workshop and then they see a specialist.

Oakdale Patch: What is your educational background?

Yang: I graduated with a BA from Concordia St. Paul in 2005. This past year I went back to Concordia to get my master’s degree in classroom education with a K-12 reading endorsement. I’m also licensed to be a K-12 literacy specialist. I should be finished with my master’s this June.

Oakdale Patch: Aside from the normal curriculum, how much of you is in the classroom?

Yang: I think a lot. In order for the kids to learn, you have to be accepting of different ability levels and be willing to work with them and push them higher. I think some teachers get stuck in thinking that all kids are the same, or that they all learn the same.

Even though I teach primarily communication skills, I still work with the kids a lot in small groups to help get them to where they need to be.

Also being fluent in Hmong helps my ELL kids as well as the English-speaking kids. It helps introduce the concept of other cultures and make the kids aware of diversity. For example when we’re doing math, I teach the kids how to count in Hmong; and when we’re learning colors I teach them in English and in Hmong.

That first week of school when I’m explaining things to the Hmong-speaking kids, it’s kind of fun to hear the reaction of the English-speaking kids. I’ll get comments like, ‘Mrs. Yang, I didn’t know you could speak Spanish.' 

Oakdale Patch: What is the greatest strength you bring to the classroom?

Yang: I think I’m just patient. All the kids bring something different and unique with them and there is always going to be struggles. Being patient allows me to still let them be kids.

Oakdale Patch: What do you love about your job?

Yang: I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. The whole interaction with kids—the light in their eyes when they get something or when they catch on—is an amazing thing to see. I love the end of the school year when I can see their growth and how far they’ve come. It’s just amazing.