The
Velma Freeman Gillespie and Zelma Freeman Root Foundation was established in 1995 by Mrs. Gillespie’s
family to honor a deserving teacher at the end of each school year. Velma
Freeman Gillespie and Zelma Freeman Root were twin sisters who both taught in
the Borger ISD system for over twenty-five years each. Mrs. Root came to
Borger in 1944. Mrs. Gillespie came to visit her from Arkansas in 1946 and
never went back. Mrs. Gillespie taught in Borger Junior High School for 25
years. Mrs. Root taught at Borger High School for 26 years. Both
retired in 1971. After retiring from BISD, Zelma Root taught at Frank
Phillips Junior College for five years. Mrs. Gillespie had two sons, Dr.
Hamp Gillespie and Dr. Mike Gillespie, who both graduated from Borger
Independent School District. After Velma Gillespie passed away in October 1994, her sons wanted to honor their
mother and aunt by establishing the foundation.
The
award is given to a deserving teacher in the academic field who possesses the
following:
1.
A
concern for students and the capability to inspire them
2.
The
ability and willingness to work cooperatively with colleagues
3.
A
drive to initiate activities that improve instruction for students
4.
An
ability to work effectively with different groups in the community
5.
The
desire to stay informed of current educational theories and practices
6.
An
ability and willingness to make meaningful contributions to education
7.
Examples
of innovations started in the nominees’ classrooms.
The 2020-2021 campus nominees
included: Katie Francis, Kindergarten Instructor
at Paul Belton Elementary (not pictured); Lisa Cole, First-Grade Instructor at Gateway
Elementary; Angie Moran, Fourth-grade Instructor at Crockett Elementary; Jordan
Boyd, Fifth-grade ELA Instructor at Borger Intermediate; Ashley McLaughlin, 8th Grade ELA Instructor at Borger Middle
School and Jon Koehn, Borger High School History Instructor and Coach.
This
year, the Root-Gillespie award went to Ashley McLaughlin. She will receive $750
to spend in her classroom. Each campus nominee will receive $250 for their
classroom.
Along
with setting up her own classroom, Mrs. McLaughlin volunteered to help teachers
at BMS set up Google Classrooms, create videos and gave them support to provide
instruction online and in the classroom.
Face-to-face and online attendance was a challenge last year. Mrs. McLaughlin volunteered to keep track of
the online attendance and made phone calls when students were not engaged in
the online classrooms.
Mrs.
McLaughlin is always studying to build her craft. She went above and beyond to learn more about
the Units of Study and how to implement them in her classroom. She turned her
current classroom into a reading and writing workshop.
In
order to inspire boys to be more successful in the classroom, she created the 8th-grade
Boys Lunch Club where students read a simple passage and played physical games and
answered STAAR type questions to earn rewards.
The club started with 20 students and grew to 45 by the time for STAAR
testing!
Mrs.
McLaughlin was also on the site-based committee, worked with Rotary Club with the
Four-Way essay contest, and volunteered by handing out backpacks at the Back to
School Fair.
Students
know they are in a safe place when they walk into Mrs. McLaughlin’s room. They see positive inspirational messages and
a reading section with huge comfy pillows.
You will often see students going to see her for a piece of advice, a
pep talk, a joke or a piece of candy.
She is also the person the staff can go to when they need a boost.
Congratulations
to Mrs. McLaughlin and thank you for your service!
Koehn, Boyd, Moran, Cole, McLaughlin
