Outstanding Warwick teacher `never mean'

Warwick Beacon ·

Hoxsie 5th grader Kendall Jackson wasn’t looking for laughs when she described 4th grade teacher Ann Bannon. Bannon was recognized Wednesday morning as the district’s elementary teacher of the year.

Hoxsie Principal Gary Mccombs asked Kendall and her classmates Alexis Warbuton and Ava Holland to read their tributes to the teacher they admire. Alexis and Ava spoke how Bannon helped them and what made her special.

“Some of the things that make her special are that she talks about the news and keeps you caught up on what is going on in the world,” Alexis said.

Kendall, on the other hand, chose words to describe her former teacher based on each initial of her last name. She started off with “beautiful,” then said, “awesome and nice.” Faced with another “N” she picked “nurturing” that she followed with “out going.”

And then came the final “N” and what turned out to be the laugh line – “never mean.”

Even Bannon had to laugh.

Like principals in each of the city’s 16 elementary schools, Mccombs was asked to nominate a teacher from within the ranks for the district distinction. A panel then reviewed the nominations and made the selection.

“We are so lucky to have Mrs. Bannon here at Hoxsie School,” Mccombs said to students and faculty gathered in the all-purpose room.

“She is the first person to tell a student, ‘You can do better than that’ but she is also the first person to put her arm around a student and say, ‘It’s ok. I know it’s hard. Let’s do this together!’ Mrs. Bannon has a growth mindset and has embraced new initiatives such as standards based grading and station rotation.”

Bannon stepped forward from a lineup of faculty to accept her accolades, including a bouquet from Lynn Dambruch, director of elementary education and a plaque from Superintendent Philip Thornton. Traditionally, Dambruch explained, the award is presented at a School Committee meeting, but the decision was made to make the announcement in front of the school this year.

Bannon started her Warwick teaching career at Greenwood School 30 years ago, where she taught for two years. She then taught at Park for 24 years before coming to Hoxsie four years ago.

“Mrs. Bannon is always a team player and helps new teachers,” Mccombs said. “She is so thoughtful and always thinks of others first,” he said.

Bannon thanked officials and students for her recognition and then like a magnet gravitated to her students as the assembly concluded and they headed back to their classrooms.