Mrs. Michelle Thorne, Academic Support Coach at Wasmer Elementary, joins The GIPS Cast to share why teaching is the best way to change the world. She speaks to the importance of welcoming all students while also providing consistent expectations and how she's seen that approach impact thousands of scholars. Thorne also reflects on how her unique role allows her to take part in the daily passion of collaborative teaching and mentor staff all throughout the school. And what the honor of being named 2024 GIPS Specialist of the Year means to her.
Because it's all about daring to believe that students — thru the influence of dedicated teachers — can achieve great things.
#WeAreGIPS
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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Mitchell Roush 00:00
Mitchell, welcome back to "The GIPS Cast", a conversation based podcast, bringing to you stories and voices from all corners of our district, Grand Island Public Schools. I'm your host. Mitchell Roush, Communications Director here at gi PS. And as always, I am excited to bring to you the latest from GIPS, because here we are driven by our mission of every student, every day of success.
Kari-Hooker Leep 00:30
Specialist, counselor, award, this person will spend hours in the evenings to meet with students or staff, or even meet them on a weekend, help them plan. She proficiently juggles her time between two school sites. She has a true desire to help all staff and students succeed. She is the beating heart of her school. She will let you cry when you need to shares the joys when you are happy. Her motto is, students need to know that they will be remembered. Congratulations to our specialists of the year, Michell Thorne, Academic Support Coach at Wasmer Elementary!
Michelle Thorne 01:20
My name is Michell Thorne, and I'm the Academic Support Coach at Wasmer Elementary.
Mitchell Roush 01:27
Thank you so much for being here. Mrs. Thorne, I always enjoy hanging out with you. So this time we're just turning on a microphone. That's right. Yeah, absolutely. So you've been in the district and at wasmer for 34 years, correct? It's a long time. It is a long time, but that's also very impressive and really cool to see that you've been able to invest in the same building for all that time and see the students and the families and the staff coming in and out. But what do you love most about education and teaching?
Michelle Thorne 01:57
I saw a quote, and I just love this quote. It said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." And I really believe that we can change the world one child at a time, and teaching is just the most rewarding profession. I can't think of a better way to contribute to society. Teaching gives you just such satisfaction of watching your learners discover new learning. Teaching allows you to experience joy when your students progress. Yes, in academics, yes, those light bulb moments, yes, and you you just see it. You see when that comes on, or when they gain that knowledge, and then they just grow passionate about that subject, or what you are teaching. And we see that so much in CKLA absolutely, they are learning new things and and just thriving and wanting to grow and do more learning on their own then. And something else that I feel as teachers, we have a plus is it is never boring.
Mitchell Roush 03:18
No joke, as much as you all like, invest in routine and things like that. No. Two days are the same.
Michelle Thorne 03:27
No there's no way to plan, yeah, for every day, usually in the morning, that's my time that I'm like, making my game plan, my plan of attack, what I'm going to do. And every day is different, and so we have to think about that. Every day we have that ability to change the lives of children.
Mitchell Roush 03:48
That is everything, right? Every day you've got an opportunity. And I love the way that you said that and and you part of that no two days are the same too, is you never know what students are bringing in, right? With with their own backpacks that they're wearing, both literally and figuratively, right? And you're ready for it, and you're here investing in every student, and that's what drives the work, and I know that's what drives you, and what drives so many of our staff members, correct?
Michelle Thorne 04:12
that's what it's all about.
Mitchell Roush 04:14
So this is, you know, kind of related, and you may say some of the same things, but again, 34 years in education, 34 years at the same school. Super impressive. But again, that is a rare thing. What keeps you coming back because you're still doing this thing.
Michelle Thorne 04:31
I still am. To me, teaching isn't just a job. I can't believe that I get to wake up each morning and come and do what I get to do, yeah, and it's just yeah, something else. I thought teaching, I also feel is a calling. I can't I just can't imagine doing anything else. And I am one of the lucky ones who knew. What career I wanted to have? Yeah, when I was in the first grade, no way.
Mitchell Roush 05:04
Yes, you that is rare, right? Like, as a first grader, like, I'm going to be a teacher. And here you are.
Michelle Thorne 05:12
I have a document, a piece of paper that was in a workbook that my mom saved, and it said, I want to be a teacher when I grow up, because I want to be just like Mrs. Huff, no way. Yes, wow.
Mitchell Roush 05:30
That's the full circle moment.
Michelle Thorne 05:32
It is. It is incredible. Wasmer feels just like family to me. Yep. I absolutely love our students, our parents and our staff. So 34 years ago, the wasmer staff took me in, and life has never been the same. I'm one of the last few that I started with. I don't think anyone else right now, you're the last one holding on, but I still keep in touch with these remarkable educators, and now that I'm proud to call friends and the staff, they are like family to me. Yeah, they've been there through my ups, through my downs, and seeing all these new teachers coming in that I just hope to continue that special wasmer family feeling, and I can already see that some are getting that, yep. Um, people do ask me that question, When are you going to retire? Right? Parents, other teachers. I think most teachers know my answer right now, that I still feel like I have a lot of work to do, and I still have a lot of learning to do. So that's another plus with that with teaching, is that we are constantly learning.
Mitchell Roush 07:01
The lifelong learning piece. Yes, it's, it's important for the educators, and because that makes you better, and you're modeling that for the students who you want to be lifelong learners.
Michelle Thorne 07:13
And I, I just want to continue making that positive impact on the lives of children, their families and colleagues.
Mitchell Roush 07:27
We're incredibly fortunate to have you here for those reasons. And and I feel like that's a very honest answer, right? When you say, like, why am I still doing this? Because you're waking up every day and you're still excited about what you're doing, and you know exactly how to make a positive impact. And like you said, there's still work to do. I haven't retired. I don't know what retirement life is like, but I would imagine I probably would feel differently about that if I felt like I was ready. But if you wake up every day and you're ready to do it, yeah, yes.
Michelle Thorne 07:55
So you might see me for a few more years.
Mitchell Roush 08:00
I hope so definitely. And again, really cool because, because you have been in the same place for so long, you've been able to be a part of so many different things as a new educator and learn from veterans, and then to become the veteran yourself, and now to be a coach and be connected to all of the staff in the building. Like that's a pretty cool legacy.
Michelle Thorne 08:21
It feels it feels good. Something else with that is that I'm seeing the students that I had, yeah, have children now, second generation and and it's also fun that they come back and they say, Oh, wasmer is still having the Christmas store, yep, or the school carnival or or, yeah, yep,
Mitchell Roush 08:49
Awesome! So you talked about earlier the importance of making a difference in the lives of every student, one student at a time. I want to go into that a little bit deeper just talking about education as a whole. I'm you. I'm sure you have strong feelings about education. So what is your philosophy of education?
Michelle Thorne 09:09
I was very fortunate to have a wise principal who taught our staff that teaching is about two things, okay, it's teaching is all about relationships and expectations. Wow. And she would end that statement with End of story.
Mitchell Roush 09:31
That's it, relationships and expectations, end of story, that's what she would say.
Michelle Thorne 09:37
And if we think about it, relationships are the foundation for making a school a place where all students can be successful. So I feel that we really need to go that extra mile to build those meaningful relationships with students also parents. Family members, absolutely. And then also our colleagues, because I know that I'm where I am today because of my colleagues, right, who I taught with, who the lady in the lunch room, just, just all of us. And then also, we all see the benefits when you focus on the students well being, it's just natural, then the academics and a positive classroom culture thrive. Believing in our students and having those high expectations will most definitely boost student achievement. Yep, and wasmer is really and we're doing a lot with believing that all students can.
Mitchell Roush 10:46
Yes! Absolutely, and helping them understand that they can. Because there, there may be some students that haven't thought about that before, and you've got, you've got to show them that through the relationship and the expectations, to say it can be done. It can be.
Michelle Thorne 10:59
We believe in you, yeah, not just academically, but socially behaviorally, all of those things. Yep. I also believe that engaging students and making lessons meaningful so students can achieve success and build self confidence, which allows them to take risks, yeah, knowing that it is okay to learn from our mistakes.
Mitchell Roush 11:26
Absolutely, you want to talk about lifelong learning. Absolutely, a skill that we need to figure out is how to learn from our mistakes, right?
Michelle Thorne 11:35
And then when, when our students are engaged and they make that personal connection. That's when they apply it to their own lives, yep, and that's what we are here for.
Mitchell Roush 11:48
Absolutely, that's such a good word, and I'm really grateful to hear you talk about that expectation piece, right? Because, yes, relationships matter, and I think that that's something that most people probably understand. Really does drive education, but paired with expectations, that's how you you bolster achievement, how you get students doing the hard things, how they start believing in themselves. You've got to have both.
Michelle Thorne 12:15
Yes and not just with students, but when we think about what we expect our parents to we expect our parents to take part, yeah, in their child's education. We expect them to come to to parent teacher conference.
Mitchell Roush 12:31
Absolutely come learn about your child's learning. Ask them questions about it at school, help them with their spelling tests, all those sorts of things.
Michelle Thorne 12:38
And we expect ourselves as teachers, staff members, to come to school, to walk through those doors every day and give it our best. It's everything. Yep, totally.
GIPS COMMERCIAL 12:55
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Mitchell Roush 13:32
You have a unique position with what you've been doing the last few years here at wasburn in the district as an academic support coach. So taking your philosophy of education, talk to me about what you do as an academic support coach, and why is that vital to an operation like an elementary school? Because you you get to help engage all of the staff members in some capacity. So talk to me about that.
Michelle Thorne 13:57
Okay, I want to start with the definition that Gi, PS defines Yes, Coach Yes. And kind of just to sum it up, it's the practice of one individual helping another individual, or sometimes a group of individuals, to clarify set and successfully pursue goals.
Mitchell Roush 14:21
Okay. Clarify, set and successfully pursue goals.
Michelle Thorne 14:24
Right. And those need to be student goals, yes, with our student in mind. So teaching in today's world is hard, of course, it is hard. It's a big task. Teaching is the most complex profession in the world, and as coaches, we need to make sure that teachers understand that they don't have to do it alone. So I am a non evaluative thought partner. Care for teachers and we collaborate to identify professional goals, student goals, learn about effective practices to support those goals, and then grow from the partnership together, I grow and learn every time I'm in a coaching cycle, absolutely someone, it's just back and forth. And once again, it's all about student achievement.
Mitchell Roush 15:31
Working with and collaborating, collaborating with your colleagues and the staff to focus on the student and what do they need to continue to learn and hit where they need to hit.
Michelle Thorne 15:42
And know teachers know that we can make mistakes. Yeah, I'm in the room and something flops. It's okay. We'll try it a different a different way. And sometimes I just remember being in the classroom, you're with eight, 910, year olds all day, right? And sometimes you just need someone to listen or to vent, yeah. And so you will often see my room full of teachers at the end of the day.
Mitchell Roush 16:12
And that's totally okay.
Michelle Thorne 16:15
Sometimes they just need a place to go where they can reflect upon that day, absolutely so you may see teachers crying. Sometimes there could be tears. I have a rocking chair. Specifically, teachers come in and rock Yeah, we have chocolate.
Mitchell Roush 16:34
I think that's a very important ingredient.
Michelle Thorne 16:37
Even root beer barrels a teacher requested. And I just want to be that, that mentor, that person, that they can come to, yep, to celebrate, or to say, Help, yeah, I'm drowning
Mitchell Roush 16:56
Absolutely and and you're there, you're you're that, you're that constant there for them as we continue the grueling but amazing work of teaching teaching students. You're very much a building leader in that capacity, right? Because you do have your job says to collaborate with every staff member in the building, and again, because of your knowledge and your history with the building, you're a leader here, and I know the staff view you that way as well. So what does it look like as a building leader to provide meaningful support to your staff while still helping to shape student instruction?
Michelle Thorne 17:31
So, when I decided to take this new role on and leave the classroom, I really, really worried about not impacting children, yeah, but I didn't realize that each time I coach with a teacher, that together, we are bringing about positive change, and that I'm helping impact every student that that teacher ever teaches? Yeah? So in this way, I realized that in just one year, coaches could have a positive impact on 1000s of children.
Mitchell Roush 18:14
Such a good way to think about because it's true.
Michelle Thorne 18:16
It is that I didn't, until I got into this, I didn't realize that, like, if I go to the grocery store, I see so many more students, yep, that are coming up, and it just I still feel that valued and needed, and it's a good Feeling. Yeah, so some of the ways that we do help shape student instruction. Of course, teacher support. So we talk about instructional strategies. I do a lot of observing and taking teachers to observe, giving lots of feedback. Can be a problem solving partner, yeah, setting goals, doing a lot of modeling. And one of my favorite things to do with teachers is co teach, yeah? And just that would be fun.
Mitchell Roush 19:12
Slip into the classroom. Co teach, hang out with the kids for a bit. Absolutely.
Michelle Thorne 19:17
That is my favorite. Love, doing that. And then we have PLCs once a week. And I am not the facilitator of the PLC, but I do offer resources. We do a lot of standards based planning around our guaranteed and viable curriculum.
Mitchell Roush 19:37
That's right, guaranteed and viable. I love that! You got that in there. I appreciate that.
Michelle Thorne 19:42
And then I love data.
Mitchell Roush 19:45
Yes! So, which is a common thing in this role, like, as I talk to the coaches we have across the district, they're all like data, let's do it.
Michelle Thorne 19:54
But it's probably what's important. Then after we look at that, yeah, what we do with that? For sure, so just doing a lot of action planning around that, and I just get excited when we're growing and we see students scores grow of course along with teachers.
Mitchell Roush 20:13
How could you not right? Like, because that's part of the reason the data matters so much, is because you can, you can see the student with the light bulb moment, and then you can look how they're performing throughout the year and see the growth. You can literally see the growth.
Michelle Thorne 20:26
And this year at wasmar, we are really honing in on students showing and, like putting the data in, yeah, and coloring up the graphs so they can see their progress. Oh, that's cool. Like when we go to progress monitor, yeah, they will say, what was my score the last time? I just want to beat it, and we need to celebrate, even if they read one more word.
Mitchell Roush 20:53
Right. So love that. That's such a good way to make it exciting for the kids, too.
Michelle Thorne 20:58
And then, at the district and building level. I help with MTSS and then get to take part in a lot of the professional learning.
Mitchell Roush 21:10
Absolutely. So you talked about a couple things that are really important about what we do, and I just want to clarify for our listeners, PLCs are professional learning communities. That's when a small group of like minded professionals, or professionals in the same focus area work intentionally together on the work that they're doing right and then MTSS, that's,
Michelle Thorne 21:32
Can I interrupt?
Mitchell Roush 21:33
Yes, go for it. Do it.
Michelle Thorne 21:35
One thing that has changed with some schools in Grand Island, because we are believing that all students can, yeah, we have a representative from SE and El amazing, also at every PLC.
Mitchell Roush 21:52
that's huge, huge. So special education and English language learners are also collaborating with your staff as you you focus on the super specific work of getting students where they need to be, yes,
Michelle Thorne 22:03
And we're seeing that has made a tremendous difference.
Mitchell Roush 22:07
I would imagine so, for so many reasons, right? Like you talk about your colleagues, like building those relationships and establishing that trust and working together, and the Student Success piece as well.
Michelle Thorne 22:18
And we all know that we have different strengths, yeah, and just alone in what strength, different strengths that the classroom teachers can give us. Yeah, it's also, how would an El teacher, you know, what? What could she offer and bring to the table, absolutely, to help those classroom teachers.
Mitchell Roush 22:41
And what a proactive way to make a difference.
Michelle Thorne 22:43
Just... It's really, really, really, really going well.
Mitchell Roush 22:49
That's so good to hear the intentionality behind all of that. So kind of want to reflect with you a little bit here before we wrap up our conversation again. 34 years at wasmer Elementary, you've you've been a part of the lives of so many students and so many colleagues and staff members. Is there something, when you look back on your time in education, a story from your years as an educator, that sticks out to you? There are so many I'm asking you to pick one. Over 34 years, it's like impossible.
Michelle Thorne 23:22
Most of my favorite memories really involve the staff going above and beyond to touch the lives of our students. That's why we do it. So that's right, and those are the memories, those are the memories the students have, the teachers have. So I remember that we had a lot of snow in December of 2009 Okay, lots of snow.
Mitchell Roush 23:52
Nebraska winters.
Michelle Thorne 23:54
It was like the middle, so not quite before break yet, but break was coming up. So our principal was shocked to hear that around half of our students had never been sledding before. Really, it's it's amazing, but they didn't, yeah, so we brought all these sleds, if they had one, they could bring it to school. And we decided we were going to take, as a school, a field trip to the original site of Wasmer.
Mitchell Roush 24:31
Of course, because this, yeah, the building that you're in now is not the original, right, right?
Michelle Thorne 24:36
And we moved in here in the year 2000 Yep. And so, believe it or not, I had a student who just moved from Florida and of course, never had seen snow before. Culture shock to the max made sure that we had coats for all the kiddos and I. What I remember is the excitement of the other students were, they were just so excited, yeah, to see this child experience the snow and the thrill of sledding. So and past students still talk about this day.
Mitchell Roush 25:22
I would like to go on that field trip. I don't know anybody that wouldn't.
Michelle Thorne 25:25
Thta would be a blast. So the kids all after we came back and got out of our wet clothes and warmed up, we had hot chocolate, and then we all had to write an essay about our experience. Wow. And the winner of that essay then received a brand new sled.
Mitchell Roush 25:44
Oh, that's so cool. Okay, you picked a good memory. That's a good memory.
Michelle Thorne 25:50
Just going above and beyond in the memory of all of the memories of the Christmas store, yeah, when they are so excited to buy gifts or their family. Fine gifts. Find gifts for their family. Yes, the big deal that you just use you you see their hearts, the true meaning of that holiday, yeah, what it's all about with some really good kids here, with good hearts.
Mitchell Roush 26:17
I agree. Gosh, that's so good, so good. See, I knew you'd have good stories. She needs to come with a story. All right, I have more that could be another episode. So I'm gonna make you do something that I know you don't really like doing, and that's talk about yourself and not about your kids for a second. All right, so we can't have this conversation without talking about what happened at the beginning of the school year, which is you were recently named the Grand Island Public Schools specialist of the year for the 2024 year. So I want to ask you, what does that honor mean to you? To be named the specialist of the year for the district?
Michelle Thorne 26:57
This honor fills me with such gratitude towards all who have guided me along the way, yeah, so when I read the nominations before, that really is all I needed. Yeah, that was the true honor, because
Mitchell Roush 27:13
you were nominated by colleagues and families and students, right?
Michelle Thorne 27:17
And that's, that's all I needed, truthfully, it also made me feel how privileged I am to work with such talented and dedicated colleagues, and I know that I wouldn't be where I am today without these amazing people leading and demonstrating and teaching me. So I just hope, through it all, that I'm known as a friend, a mentor, a teacher or a coach who really cares and has a huge passion for teaching boy the Grand Island Education Foundation sure knows how to make a person feel appreciated Absolutely. And gi PS, is so blessed to have them on their team. Yes, we are during my journey. You know, there have just been so many friends and family members who've helped me reach my career goals, and I think I'll never forget shaking hands, giving the hugs, and then walking to that edge of the stage where I saw my closest friends, family members, husband and especially my mom, walking to greet me. Yeah, and I just know that I couldn't do it without them. I have the most supportive husband. He understands and values my passion for teaching and going far back, I owe so much to my mom and my dad, who's watching from above, who taught me all about working hard, pursuing my dream for teaching and just especially caring for people.
Mitchell Roush 29:16
I think anyone that has spent time with you, whether it's in a professional setting or just even out in the community, I think they they know your heart for kids. They know your heart for education. And so I am confident we're speaking on behalf of our community and all gi PS, when we say you've made this place better, and you definitely deserve this honor. So thank you for everything you have done for all of the students and staff that you have collaborated with and taken care of.
Michelle Thorne 29:42
It's been my honor.
Mitchell Roush 29:45
Absolutely. So the last thing I'll ask, and I ask everybody that guests on this podcast the same question, because I think it's, it's a real, meaningful conversation, and I'm always just inspired by the answers that I hear. So. Mrs. Thorne, I'm gonna ask you, what is one thing about public education that you want people to know?
Michelle Thorne 30:08
Our public schools are the heart of our communities. Yeah, so public education gives everyone an equal opportunity to become educated and to reach their potential, because we expect and we believe as children, everyone has a right to learn, regardless of their social status, their culture, their learning capacity and their skills. And I really believe that most public schools are so rich in diversity, which I think is the most important part, that it allows students to get to know people of different cultures and backgrounds. All of that prepares our students for college, the careers, the workplace, and, most importantly, public education prepares our students for life. Yes, this is what. This is life. What's happening on wasmer, is the real world, right?
Mitchell Roush 31:15
Such a good word. I knew you would have a good answer, but I you really hit on something that I think is core to what we do here, and I know that there are educators all over the place that believe this, but like, learning is not a privilege, it is a right, and we are. We are taking everybody and giving them an opportunity to learn.
Michelle Thorne 31:34
regardless of anything. So good.
Mitchell Roush 31:38
So good. Mrs. Thorne, thank you again for being who you are, and also for being generous with your time and letting me turn on a microphone and chat with you for a little bit.
Michelle Thorne 31:47
This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it, and we always enjoy you. Mitchell, wonderful and Grand Island is lucky to have you.
Mitchell Roush 31:54
Thank you. That is kind of you to say. I did not pay her to say that, by the way, awesome. Thank you again, Mrs. Thorne, for everything that you do for gi PS and for our community. Thank you so much listeners for joining us on the GI PS cast. We appreciate you journeying along with us as we share the voices and stories from Grand Island Public Schools. Of course, if you enjoyed today's episode our conversation with Mrs. Thorne, or if you enjoy this whole podcast, we would appreciate it if you gave us a rating or a review on your favorite podcast platform that will help people discover us along the way. And of course, be sure to check out gips.org, that's www.gips.org that is our district website, your hub for resources and materials and news and announcements and everything that you need from Grand Island Public Schools. Thank you again for joining us, listeners. We'll be coming back at you soon with some more great stories from our district.
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