Shiana Robertson

Shiana Robertson of Rockford has been teaching third grade at Rockford’s Washington Elementary School the past three of her 11 years as a teacher. She was nominated by a former student, who wrote, “She cheers us on. She tells me to work hard and I will succeed in life.  She is proud of us. She is a great example of what a great teacher should be.” Shiana says that in her classroom, “students drive their own education and I act as a facilitator. I encourage them to challenge ideas, respectfully disagree and offer feedback, knowing this kind of engagement is crucial for growth.” She has modeled that it is okay to ask for help, make mistakes, take risks and laugh at yourself. One day while illustrating a math problem, she went blank, knowing that something was wrong but unable to resolve it. She asked her students for help. They offered suggestions and pointed out where they thought she’d erred. “Since then, I’ve watched them grow in confidence, taking more risks and embracing mistakes as part of the process.” While trying to involve families in their children’s education, she heard from a parent who was struggling with the new math curriculum. She met the parent after school and walked her through her teaching methods. “Asking for help can feel vulnerable. It was such a humbling experience – for  both of us. It wasn’t just about teaching math, but about showing that we’re all learning and growing together.” Addressing diversity is more than just making students feel seen to Shiana, “but also about valuing them and their unique experiences.” She incorporates topics students can relate to and connect with. “Who would’ve thought that reading about video games could inspire such passionate opinion pieces and fiery argumentative paragraphs? Nothing gets them writing like the battle over whether or not ‘Robox’ is a work of art”! Shiana’s decisions are all based on her desire to help students grow and thrive. To do so, she lets students take responsibility for their learning. She won’t do their problems or give them the answers, but she is by their side to guide and support them and to offer different strategies or more time to work through struggles. She tells them she is “building their personal tool belts; it’s their job to pick the right tool for each situation.” Shiana’s principal, Dr. Angelique Malone says “in every aspect of her work, she goes above and beyond. I am continually impressed by her unwavering dedication to her students, colleagues and our shared mission of educational excellence.” Observers saw her present a project that fostered curiosity and independence. When she had to step out of the room briefly, class did not miss a beat. They continued on, leading the conversation. “It is obvious that this teacher has spent intentional time working with her students to get them to this level of independence and critical thinking. Their interactions with each other were so focused, yet friendly and respectful.”