RRMS English Teacher, Janet Bartling, is Region 5's Outstanding Teacher

The RRMS community recently celebrated our incredible 7th Grade English Teacher, Janet Bartling, as she was named Region 5's Outstanding Teacher. Read a few excerpts from her nomination packet to learn more about Janet and the impact she makes on our school community every day. We are proud to serve our community alongside such a transformational teacher leader! 

Laurie Simmons, 7^th Grade English Teacher: "As English Department Chair, Janet began the critical and time-consuming work of creating an equity audit for our ELA bookroom of over 200 titles. Based on this audit, she worked to help read, propose, and write rationales for 100 new titles to make sure all students have access to books where diversity in all of its forms is valued. Janet understands that all students deserve to see someone like themselves mirrored in a book, as an admirable protagonist. Students also need windows into other people’s lives and experiences so they can gain understanding, empathy, and sometimes inspiration. The deepest hope is that some books would become doors, enabling students to cross over into making connections with other people, whether that’s in another country or zip code. And we want those mirrors, windows, and doors to be across all different genres and at all different reading levels, an essential component to creating a caring culture. Janet began this important work for our school and continues to be at the core of how it is implemented and celebrated with all students at every level."

RRMS Parent: "Mrs. Bartling has brought English Class alive for my daughter this year. My daughter has always struggled in English class and has very little confidence in the class. Mrs. Bartling has completely transformed my daughter in both her confidence in English class and her attitude toward English class. Mrs. Bartling has created a classroom environment that fosters and supports student success. She also creates a caring environment in which all students' needs are met and students are willing to take risks to expand their knowledge of the subject and improve their abilities. I never thought that my daughter, Charlotte, would say that English is one of her favorite classes, but Mrs. Bartling's teaching strategies and approach not only to the curriculum, but her inclusiveness of different learning styles in her teaching has made this possible."

Jeanne Costello, US History Teacher at RRMS: “Students feel safe and thrive in Mrs. Bartling’s classroom because she knows them on a personal level. She keeps exquisite records on students’ academic performance, and frequently contacts parents, who love her honest and friendly communication even on uncomfortable issues that come up in middle school.  Students look forward to English with her, anticipating—always—a meaningful, skill-based English lesson that is creative and tailored to each child, with a variety of diverse, accessible readings and activities for all levels."

RRMS 8^th Grade Student: “Ever since I was little, I have had a dream to become a teacher. This is still true to this day, and Mrs. Bartling has helped me realize what a true teacher means. It means putting your students before yourself. She is my role model and continues to inspire, not just me, but all her students by showing them that everyone is good at different things, and it is okay to struggle; that is how you learn, and teachers and mentors are there to help you along your journey however arduous it may be.”