Amanda Hicks, teacher, Rose Hill Junior High
Kudos to Amanda Hicks, Lake Washington School District’s “Staff Star” for December 2011
Amanda Hicks, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Rose Hill Junior High, has only been teaching at the school for three years but is already making a big impact on the staff and students. Not only does she teach Nutrition and Consumer Life Skills, she also serves on a number of committees and teams. She is in charge of the mentor program, advises the yearbook and coaches track.
One of her colleagues says Amanda brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the school and always has a smile on her face.
Amanda has always wanted to be a teacher so she could make a difference in students’ lives. Her aunt taught in the district and was a big influence on her decision to enter teaching. Amanda graduated from Eastlake High School. She went to Washington State University where she earned her degree in Education in 2008. Her endorsement is in Family and Consumer Sciences.
Her favorite part of the job is seeing how students improve over the course of a year. She engages students in learning and encourages them to work to their highest level.
“When teaching cooking and nutrition courses, I love seeing how the kids come into my class at the beginning of the year and how they progress into real chefs by the end.”
Amanda also enjoys coming to her job knowing that each day is different. Within the Family and Consumer Sciences field, new information arises daily. She is currently the only teacher in her department, which allows her to vary her lessons and consistently update them to make the lessons more appealing to the kids. She feels with the various health issues facing students, it’s important to teach kids not just how to bake but also how to make heart-healthy meals.
“Cooking and nutrition are lifelong skills they will use forever! When they learn in my classroom, they are exposed to a kitchen and working in small groups. This teaches them to share the responsibilities that go into working in a kitchen both at home and within the workforce.”
Amanda enjoys teaching at Rose Hill because of its diversity and a school environment that shows respect and loyalty to staff and students. She strives to teach similar ideals to students in her class.
“Awareness in our changing community has been a big focus this year,” said Amanda. “Keeping our community clean, planting our own food and becoming aware of and spreading the word of nutrition and wellness are important skills. I encourage my class to take accountability for what we do and how we can improve our community.”
When she’s not teaching and helping out with the different committees, teams and clubs at Rose Hill, Amanda loves to be outdoors and enjoys camping.