Nicole Busker of Belvidere has been teaching for 12 years. She’s in her fourth year at Seth Whitman Elementary, where she teaches second grade science, social studies and writing. She’s also active with Special Olympics, Team World Vision and Night to Remember. Nicole meets students and learns to correctly pronounce their names during Back to School Night so when class starts, she really sees and hears them. They and their names matter. Relationship-building keep her students visiting long past second grade. Sometimes they’ll work through problems with her; other times, they just need a high-five or a hug. She prides herself on “fostering,” rather than “managing” learning (encouraging rather than controlling). Nicole includes families through notes and calls, but also has students take the lead with monthly newscasts. They write, direct, film, produce and report about their news and their learning in all subjects to their families. All year, Nicole teaches about neurodivergent people and others of different colors, religions and backgrounds. Her teaching style varies as needed for diverse students: auditory learners learn about map features through songs; visual learners explore interactive maps; kinesthetic learners design maps; ELL students use a word bank reference; a student with Cerebral Palsy works with her one-on-on to explain map; and higher-level students can integrate science and depict landforms and bodies of water in 3-D models. By teaching and modeling a growth mindset, Nicole encourages students to feel confident, safe to ask questions, make mistakes, challenge themselves and create their own learning experiences.