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Rikki Bodin, a senior in ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ’s College of Education and Human Development has been awarded the Texas Directors of Field Experience Clinical Teacher of the Year award. She will be honored at the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education annual fall conference in Frisco, Texas.

Only three teachers from across the state of Texas receive the distinction each year. Candidates are selected based on their abilities to manage the classroom, implement and execute instructional strategies, develop relationships with students, parents, faculty and staff, and reflect deeply and meaningfully about the learning and teaching processes.

Bodin said she was surprised to receive the award but it’s confirmation of her commitment to teach. “It just show me that everything I have been learning and doing over the last four years of my college career has led me to this point in my life,” said Bodin.

In addition to her success in the classroom, Bodin also met academic requirements including a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Dr. Gayle Butaud, a clinical instructor and director in the Office of Field Experience in the College of Education and Human Development at ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ said Bodin is most deserving of the award because of her approach to teaching and commitment to students.

“She is one of those students that you hope your own children or grandchildren get as a teacher because she demonstrates caring and content knowledge in the classroom before going into the field,” said Butaud. “As her supervisor, and observer, it was evident from her very first observation that she put in the extra effort to have students involved in their own learning.  Written lesson plans demonstrated consistency in this thought process. She has a strong understanding that students learn by doing.”

Bodin will be teaching second grade at Bridge City Elementary School before returning to ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ to obtain her master’s degree.

Bodin joins Lauren Solis and April Roberts of ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ, both of whom were past award winners, according to Butaud.

The Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the continual support and refinement of preparation and development programs for certificated school personnel in Texas.