University View Academy (UVA) faculty nominates educators at each school level for the Teacher of the Year award program sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). LDOE recognizes the essential contributions of educators and acknowledges that students, educators, schools, school systems, and staff are invaluable to our communities and state. UVA is committed to honoring our 2023-24 Teachers of the Year for their role in exemplifying Louisiana’s education profession and for their commitment to student success.
Our Teacher of the Year spotlight series concludes with this year’s Teacher of the Year – Elementary School recipient Mallory Himel. Himel has been teaching for 15 years. She served as a master teacher for eight years. This year is her third teaching at UVA. She currently serves as the lead for the fifth-grade math program. “I thought I would struggle with building relationships,” Himel said about teaching in UVA’s online environment. “But virtual learning forces you to call the learning coach. You’re constantly in communication with the family and able to build better relationships.”
At home, Himel has two sons involved in football and travel baseball. She emphasizes equity between the home and the classroom and aims to instruct her students with the high standards she would want for her own children. “If a lesson isn’t good enough for your own kids, it’s not good enough for your students,” Himel said.
UVA’s theme for this school year is #MissionPossible. Himel incorporates the theme in her teaching approach by seeking to help all of her students succeed and grow in confidence. “I use excellence criteria for students to evaluate themselves, and I make it equitable in my classroom so the mission is possible for every student, no matter where they are,” Himel said.
Congratulations Ms. Himel for being selected as UVA’s Teacher of the Year – Elementary School! You are empowering UVA students to be confident and future-ready. Visit UVA’s social channels to congratulate Ms. Himel on her accomplishment.