Elementary Educator of the Year Emily Larson, a first- and fourth-grade teacher in Snoqualmie Valley School District since 2009, is now teaching her first year at the fifth grade level, at Cascade View Elementary School. Her students are at an exciting age, when big things are starting to happen for them, and big transitions are right on the horizon, she says.
A North Bend resident, married to Trevor Kostanich, Larson is not new to teaching students on the brink of major changes. Her career in publishing and environmental consulting, begun after she earned a degree at Pacific Lutheran University, soon took a backseat to her volunteer work, as an English teacher for adult refugees.
“Teaching quickly became the best part of my week, so I decided to make a change,” she said. “I taught summer science camp, worked in environmental education, and taught English in Thailand,” then pursued a master’s degree in teaching from City University.
We asked Larson, along with her fellow Educators of the Year, a few questions about the honor, and their work:
How many students do you see in a day?
“I have 27 students in my homeroom and 30 in my math class. I love all of my kids, and wish I had more time for each of them. Connecting with students individually is so important to help them grow as individuals and to build the kind of teacher-student relationships that help kids feel confident taking academic risks and recovering from setbacks.
“Those connections are much more challenging to maintain with a larger class.”
What do you like about teaching fifth grade?
“Fifth grade is a really exciting – and sometimes challenging – time for students. They’re making big connections and leaps academically, deciding how to interact with their peers and who they want to be, gaining independence both at home and at school, and gearing up to transition to middle school. I love seeing their growth and accomplishments and I’m grateful that I get to be part of the team helping guide them!”
What do your students struggle with the most?
“Each student has his or her own struggles, she said, but in general, a lot of them are challenged with “Time management, math fact fluency, scientific process, typing skills, organization, revising their writing, finding text evidence for ideas, challenging math concepts, group work skills….Probably the most common struggle for all fifth graders is deciding who they want to be and how they relate to others.”
How would you describe an educator of the year — what qualities would they have?
“Student-focused, compassionate, collaborative, enthusiastic, curious, diligent, patient and firm.”
What have you learned from your students?
“My students have taught me that we’re all individuals with our own strengths and challenges, and that what I see on the surface is only a tiny part of what what’s going on in their hearts and minds or outside of our time together.
“If I draw conclusions about what’s going on with another person without getting to know them individually, it’s easy to miss the big picture and misunderstand what they are doing or saying.”
