Rhoda Carothers Photo by Vickers Photography

Rhoda Carothers was named Teacher of the Year for Mustang North Middle School. Carothers teaches seventh and eighth grade STEM/Robotics, seventh grade Math Skill Builders and eighth grade PATH (Positive Attitudes Towards Homework). She’s been teaching for 19 years, all of them at North.

Even when she was in first grade, teaching was something Carothers did naturally. 

“My mother loves to tell the story about how even as a first grader I would mimic a teacher and read books to the toddlers at the church pre-school,” she said. “I also played school with my brother and would teach him what I was learning.”

Carothers wanted to teach high school English originally, but understood that was a narrow window. 
“I switched to elementary education,” she said. “Then I stayed an extra semester and got my middle school endorsements so I could be more marketable.” 

Carothers admits teaching is a hard profession. 

“It’s funny how just one kid can give you enough fuel to keep coming back,” she said. “I love learning with my students. I find out new things every year.” 

Carothers, who enjoys the outdoors, traveling and being with her family, is one of 16 site Teachers of the Year.

Creek Elementary’s Teacher of the Year is Kylee McFarland, who teaches the kindergarten and first-grade BRAIN class. The BRAIN Program is designed to help children with behavioral issues learn replacement behaviors. Instead of simply suspending the student for acting out, the program is designed to help the student learn to control his or her own behavior.

McFarland said she has always been interested in a child’s behavior. 

“Building relationships with my students and identifying what their triggers are and the ‘why’ behind the behavior is very important to me,” she said. “I found myself wanting those kiddos with behavior problems in my classroom year after year. I became very passionate about behavior intervention and giving students what they needed, no matter the time and effort it took on my part.”