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Bayer named Va. Middle School Teacher of the Year
The Virginia Middle School Association Board of Directors on March 22 announced the winner of the 2020-21 Master in the Middle Teacher of the Year Award, which honors a nominated middle level teacher who has demonstrated a devotion to teaching young adolescents and a commitment to best middle level practices.
Sarah Bayer, seventh grade math teacher at Hidden Valley Middle School in Roanoke County is the 2020-21 recipient of this year’s award. A 16-year veteran middle school math teacher, Bayer brings excitement to every lesson she teaches. She loves working with seventh graders and is intentional in creating a warm and inviting classroom in which her students can flourish. Her “You Be Bayer” metacognitive strategy helps students understand how they learn, identifies their gaps, and provides a roadmap that allows students to take ownership of their own learning. In Bayer’s classroom, students actively encourage each other in their academic pursuits, including through a “clap down” routine that unifies the students as they celebrate each other’s successes. Sarah contributes to the professional development of her colleagues by welcoming visitors to her class and enthusiastically sharing ideas.
The Virginia Middle School Association is an alliance of schools and individuals advocating academic excellence in a supportive and equitable learning environment responsive to the diverse interest, talents, accomplishments and needs of young adolescents. VMSA is an affiliate of the international Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE). The organization will hold its annual conference on the campus of James Madison University on Friday, October 22, 2021. Ms. Bayer has been invited to be a presenter at this event. For more information about VMSA, visit their website at www.vmsa.org.