Belinda Roberts

Belinda Roberts of Belvidere teaches bilingual early childhood classes at Belvidere’s Washington Academy, where she’s been the past 12 of her 29 years as an educator. Belinda has a master’s degree, multiple endorsements and years of experience, but she says her commitment to education also lies “in the meaningful relationships I’ve built, the inclusive practices I’ve embraced and the collaborative efforts I’ve undertaken with colleagues and families. I strive to make a lasting impact on my students’ lives. My passion for teaching remains unwavering. This commitment fuels my efforts to provide the best possible start for my students, empowering them to thrive in their educational journey and beyond.” Erica Saldana, bilingual school psychologist wrote that, “whether differentiating instruction to accommodate diverse learning styles, providing additional support for students with special needs or ensuring that every child has a voice in the classroom, Belinda does an exceptional job of making each child feel seen, heard and respected. It is evident in every interaction she has with her students that she genuinely cares for them and is invested in their success – not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well. Her warm, compassionate demeanor creates an environment where children feel valued and secure, which is essential for their growth and development during these formative years.” Belinda has a blended classroom, with students who range in age from three to five years old, so her students display a wide variety of abilities. She challenges them by “setting high, but developmentally appropriate expectations, using differentiated instruction, encouraging problem solving and whet I think is the most important, incorporating a growth mindset approach.”  One strategy, Belinda uses is open-ended questions to encourage them to solve problems and think critically. After a magnetic tile challenge, she asked how they could create the structure differently so that it was stronger and wouldn’t collapse so soon. Students were able to apply their creativity and problem-solving skills to this task with lots of encouragement and praise from their teacher. Observers also noted that Belinda’s students took redirection well, which reflects the good rapport she has with them.