Ashlee McDonald and Barbara Buchanan are Miller Elementary’s Beginning and Experienced Teachers of the Year. Each year PISD nominates teachers from every campus, culminating in the selection of one district beginning and experienced Teacher of the Year.

McDonald is Miller Elementary’s Beginning Teacher of the Year and teaches third grade. She comes from a family of teachers. 

“My desire to become a teacher came from hearing the stories my grandparents told me about when they were teachers,” McDonald said. “Knowing I could make a difference in a child’s life inspired me. I have wanted to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl. I remember my sister and I would always play ‘school’ and we would take turns being the teacher. We would even make up exams to give each other so we would have something to grade!”

This first year of teaching has been better than McDonald expected.

“I was a bit nervous at the beginning not knowing how my students would respond to me as a first-year teacher. I had this fear that I would forget everything I had been taught. Luckily, I inherited some of my students from the second-grade class where I did my student teaching.  That made the transition from student teacher to teacher a whole lot easier,” she said. 

“Had it not been for the support of a wonderful third-grade team and team leader, Jill Glasshagel, I would not have felt as confident. Overall, I feel in years to come, I will look back on my first year of teaching with great satisfaction.”

McDonald graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in December 2008. She did her student teaching in second grade at Miller Elementary, under her mentor Heather Marek.   

“During my last week of student teaching, I was able to observe the other grade levels I was certified in.

 

Third grade really stuck out to me as an adventurous and exciting grade. The kids still love you, but at the same time they show responsibility and nevertheless have the passion for learning,” McDonald said. “My favorite part of being a teacher is the impact that I make on my students’ lives each and every day. This then allows them to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and the excitement of learning. I love the enthusiasm and receptiveness they portray through their academic development.”

McDonald credits the support of her family and the Miller staff for such a great first year.

“I am grateful to have been chosen as Beginning Teacher of the Year at Miller. I have never felt so welcomed and appreciated in a work environment as I do at Miller Elementary,” McDonald said. “I give thanks to my family for supporting me, to Principal Jennifer Bero and the Miller staff, and my team for giving me the opportunity to work in an amazing school.”

McDonald is a member of the PTA, Fine Arts Vertical Team and the Sunshine Committee. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, relaxing, catching up on TV shows from the week and exercising. 

And in her future? 

“My plan is to make the most out of my career ... teaching and inspiring children,” she said.

 

Barbara Buchanan is Miller Elementary’s Experienced Teacher of the Year. She teaches English as a Second Language for kindergarten through fifth grade. 


 

Buchanan has taught for 25 years, 20 of them in the Plano ISD. Prior to teaching in Plano she substituted in Pensacola, Fla. Buchanan began her PISD teaching career at Hughston Elementary, teaching kindergarten. In 1995, she transferred to the newly opened Miller Elementary campus and taught kindergarten and first grade. She taught first grade for eight years before teaching ESL.
 

Like McDonald, Buchanan said she’s always wanted to be a teacher.

“Growing up, I use to play the ‘teacher’ and made my siblings be my students,” she said. “My desire to go into teaching was confirmed when I took a class called Teaching Major Studies at Plano Senior High School. I enjoyed working with children at the lab, and my instructors made a big impact on my career choice. “

Buchanan graduated from the University of North Texas in 1983 and did her student teaching at Christie Elementary under the leadership of Sara Isaacs.   

Born in Rangoon, Burma (name changed to Myanmar by the current political regime), Buchanan said she was drawn to teaching ESL because she can empathize with the students. 

“I understand the challenges of learning English and acclimating to a new culture. Since ESL did not exist at the time when my family and I came to Texas, we did the total immersion method which fortunately worked for us,” she said. “I do have a special interest with the Burmese refugees that live in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. I help the children with homework and teach them English.”

Making an impact in the lives of students is one of Buchanan’s favorite parts of teaching.

“My favorite part is how making a difference in the lives of the students I teach enriches my life. I love the enthusiasm and responsiveness of the students and find it immensely rewarding to witness their academic and character growth,” she said. “I am honored to have been chosen Teacher of the Year by Miller Elementary. I feel very fortunate and blessed that I am being commended for a job that I love and find fulfilling. My weekly time is well spent helping our ESL students with their homework.”

Buchanan is a member of Association of Texas Professional Educators, PTA, Science Vertical Team and a member of School Based Improvement Committee at Miller Elementary. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, movies, cooking and spending time with family and friends. She plans to continue teaching and maybe write a children’s book some day.

Every year, the experienced teacher candidates for Plano ISD’s Teacher of the Year are nominated and elected by their peers

at their schools. The Beginning Teachers of the Year are also nominated by their peers; however, they are not eligible for the Plano ISD Teacher of the Year. 

Each teacher nominee has completed an essay question and was interviewed by a selection panel comprising administrators, teachers, parents and business and civic leaders, who made the final selections for Plano ISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year. The winning candidates are recommended for participation in the Texas Teacher of the Year competition.

Another panel of experts reviewed the written essays for the Beginning Teachers of the Year and made recommendations for the Elementary and Secondary Beginning Teachers of the year.

Plano ISD’s Teacher of the Year nominees will be honored at the school district’s annual Teacher of the Year Gala on May 13. Nearly 1,400 educators, PTA leaders, school and city dignitaries and corporate sponsors attend to celebrate teaching excellence.

 

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