Bland’s top teacher

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Going from social worker to elementary school teacher was an easy transition for Gwen Vicars. The change was prompted by her belief that an early education can prevent many of society’s problems.
“I found the solution is where education begins,” said Vicars, who is the 2010 Teacher of the Year at Bland Elementary School. “If you get in on the ground level, you can shape their life goals.”
A native of Johnson City, Tenn., now living Bluefield, she earned her degree in social work from East Tennessee State University. After several years in that field, Vicars decided to change careers.
“I never really considered being a teacher,” she noted. “I never wanted to be stuck in a classroom. I liked being out visiting my clients.”
With a degree from Bluefield State College in elementary education and certification to teach grades K-8, Vicars began her 30-year stint as an educator. A job as a long-term substitute in Bramwell, W.Va., led to a teaching position.
“There were no full-time positions around then,” she reported. “I substituted for a teacher who was on maternity leave. When the baby came, she decided to stay at home and I finished out the year. I got to know people and gained experience.”
Vicars taught first grade at Rocky Gap Elementary School before coming to Bland Elementary School in 1991. She’s been there ever since.
Asked the best part of her job, Vicars said, “Being with the children. First-grade is a unique opportunity. The children learn so much and you can see how much they change by the end of the year. It’s so rewarding to see that growth.”
According to her, the worst part of her job is the amount of paperwork required. Preparation for SOL testing and writing lesson plans for each week are time consuming for her.
Vicars has found that children are exposed to more topics through the media at younger ages. More cultural experiences from theater to zoo visits are available to them, too, she noted.
Another of her discoveries is a diminishing work ethic that trickles down to the first-grade level. Rewarding her students’ successes achieved by hard work is among her teaching methods.
For example, the name of each student in her class is placed on the Good Conduct Tree each morning. The name is removed if the student gets into trouble and fails to earn back a position on the tree.
“At the end of the day, if their names are still there,” Vicars noted, “the students get a reward.”
As a member of the Title 4 Safe and Drug Free Schools Act Advisory Board, Vicars teaches the dangers of using drugs. She helps her students distinguish between medicines and candy lookalikes, too.
Special programs and guest speakers geared toward drug safety and prevention for grades K-7 are arranged by Vicars.
Sandra Harman, supervisor of special services for Bland County Schools, heads the program. She works closely with the local advisory board.
“Mrs. Vicars is wonderful to work with,” Harman said. “She works so hard to make drug information available to the children.”
Vicars received the most nominations by the other teachers at her school for Teacher of the Year. She will face a Teacher of the Year from the county’s other three schools to be selected by the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce as 2010 Teacher of the Year.
“The honor means more coming from my peers,” Vicars said.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).