Mrs. Handy is a kindergarten teacher at Morningside Elementary in Granite School District. Although her title is teacher, she is also a master cheerleader and magician.

Students best learn when they feel encouraged and successful. Mrs. Handy is a great cheerleader with her students! She works with students with many varying abilities, strengths and needs, but is determined to help them all succeed in their own way. Mrs. Handy accommodates to all students needs in helping all progress and change to become excellent readers, writers, and mathematicians. Along her students’ journey of growing, she is there to praise for the small and big steps. A famous, clever saying in Mrs. Handy’s class is, “Kiss your brain!” Students are encouraged by her cheers for growing and success.

Learning is magical and contagious in Mrs. Handy’s class with new learning experiences each day. She engages her students in many hands-on experiences. It is magical for her to see her little students’ change and grow as they begin their school experience. Mrs. Handy never hesitates to join in the fun of exploring with the children. She can be caught swinging the jump rope, dancing, singing, playing puppets, and sitting on the floor with the students. Mrs. Handy helps her students see the magic of combining letters to make words, blending sounds to read, and joining numbers to perform math operations. Students practice the magic of learning at school and home. Each week Mrs. Handy compiles a homework folder for students to practice and connect what they are learning at home in authentic ways.

Students stretch in the magic surrounding holidays and the end of the year. Mrs. Handy creates, writes, and develops famous bulletin boards and programs during these times of the year for students to show off their learning. Magically, students are transformed in the cowboys and cowgirls, animals, Santa’s, reindeers, and most importantly “soon to be 1st graders.” Upcoming kindergarteners attend the end of year program to learn all about what kindergarten is like. These preschoolers go away feeling excited and energized in beginning something new and magical.

Mrs. Handy influences not only the kindergarteners with her magic and encouragement, but all the students at Morningside Elementary. She is and has been involved in student council, ELL, and other school and community programs. The community shows great admiration for Mrs. Handy and her tireless, high quality energy towards helping the school and community grow and change. Many parents are comforted in know their children will begin school on a positive note in her classroom and will have other opportunities to work with her throughout their elementary school experience.

Mrs. Handy’s love for the magic of teaching has influenced 3 of her daughters to pursue a degree in elementary education, including me. My sister and I currently teach 4th grade in Jordan District, and my oldest sister taught 2nd grade in Jordan District before become a full-time stay at home mom. My mom inspires and encourages all her children and grandchildren with her endless support and love. She is truly a master teacher! Please accept this nomination for Sandra Handy who magically impacts many little and big hands and hearts.

-Rebecca (Handy) Yates