Hancock County Literacy Spotlights

• Betty Jane Mitchell is our Spotlight Teacher for South Hancock Elementary. Betty Jane teaches first grade at South and has been in the IMSE OG + Practicum this entire school year!! Mrs. Mitchell has undergone extensive, strenuous work as she continues to grow and expand her teaching through IMSE's OG+ Practicum! She also recently earned her National Board Teaching Certificate in Frankfort- another rigorous learning experience! This year makes 11 years in the classroom for Ms. Mitchell! She has been at South Hancock for her entire teaching career. She has taught all subjects (but was departmentalized for 4 years - teaching math, science, and social studies). She has taught grades K-2 with most of her experience being in 1st grade. Mrs. Mitchell is originally from Pellville and attended South Hancock Elementary where she was inspired by Gracie Wells to become a teacher. Betty Jane says, "She was my kindergarten and 1st grade teacher. She had a way of making you feel absolutely brilliant and SO important. I hope I make kids feel the way Mrs. Wells made me feel." Betty Jane said that she just always loved teaching...even as a kid. She loved being creative and teaching allows for a lot of creativity. She said, "It always just felt 'right' when I was given the opportunity to teach. Not a lot beats that feeling of seeing a kid 'get it' and seeing a kid that LOVES learning. I had amazing teachers throughout my schooling and wanted to be like them." Mrs. Mitchell's favorite quote is, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” Mrs. Mitchell says her favorite hobbies include; going for walks, traveling with my family, and going to the movies. She said winter is her favorite season and that snow is one of her favorite things. "I love when it snows and everyone gets to slow down for a little while and just be together. I also love the holiday season." Mrs. Mitchell is married to Matt Mitchell, who is a nurse. They have two boys - Luca (1 year) and Milo (3 years). They have two dogs - Lacey & Remi. We are so grateful that Mrs. Mitchell decided to return to her home and give back to the South Hancock community!

North Hancock's Spotlight Teacher is Ms. Felicia Velotta. Felicia is originally from Owensboro and has been teaching for 3 years. Felicia taught 2.5 years at Audubon Elementary School doing intervention and Kindergarten. She taught at East View Elementary School as 4th grade ELA, and now is teaching Kindergarten at North Hancock Elementary. Felicia loves Hancock County and loves teaching at North Hancock! Felicia was trained in Orton-Gillingham through the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) last summer and has been using it each day in her Kindergarten classroom! Felicia was inspired to become a teacher by her mom! She said, "I always had a love for working with kids. I have a passion for loving kids and teaching them they can be great at anything they put their mind to. I also believe it takes one adult to show student they can be loved everyday." Ms. Velotta's favorite quote is, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know," by -A.A. Milne. Felicia's favorite season is Fall because she loves to be dressed in comfy sweaters. Her hobbies are singing and crafting on her cricut. Felicia has two adorable cats, Kovu and Kori. She is an auntie to her 4 month old nephew Oakley Brae, as well as an auntie to two amazing godchildren Makinley Rose (3 years old) and Grayson Charles (1 year old). We are thankful Ms. Velotta has made her way to Hancock County and wish her many, many more happy and successful years in our district as she continues her journey!

Mrs. Traci Sanders is in our Literacy Spotlight for the Hancock County Middle School! Ms. Sanders serves as Principal at HCMS and was instrumental in the implementation of Morphology at their level. Ms. Sanders knew how truly important OG was for our younger students and was eager to implement the next step with her middle school students! Ms. Sanders was excited to share with her teachers and encouraged her ELA teachers to be "all in!" This was truly evident when a group was able to visit the middle school and see the ELA teachers in action!

Ms. Sanders is a Hancock native and has served her community for 33 years. She spent a year as an Instructional Assistant at South Hancock Elementary before going to the middle school to teach Math and Science. She then stepped into the role as an Administrator leading our Hancock County Middle School. Traci said Ms. Susie Alsop, at Hawesville Elementary, inspired her to become a teacher. She said she wanted to help change the lives of students! Ms. Sanders' favorite quote is, "Don't Stop Believing," (if you know Traci you know Journey is her favorite band). Ms. Sanders said summer is her favorite season because she loves to be outside and loves to swim! Traci is married to Ricki Sanders and they have three children; Brittani, Cassi and Jacob. She also has one granddaughter- Adilynn (otherwise known as, Sweet Adi).

We're thankful for the 33 years Traci has been faithfully serving her community and helping to change the lives of her students! Ms. Sanders is sincerely one of the "good ones" and as we are sad to see her go, we are excited and happy for her next adventure as she gets to spend time with her loved ones and slow down the pace a little. :) THANK YOU, MRS. SANDERS!!!

Mrs. Kirsten Wheatley is our HCHS Literacy Spotlight Teacher! Mrs. Wheatley is originally from Owensboro. Kirsten has been teaching English for 4 years at the Hancock County High School. She was trained in IMSE's Morphology and has been implementing it this school year in her English classes.

Kirsten said that multiple teachers throughout the years made a positive impact on her life and inspired her to become a teacher. She said that most of them were her English teachers. She said she wanted to become a teacher to make a difference in kids lives! Mrs. Wheatley's favorite quote is, “Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE, the word itself says I’M POSSIBLE!" She says Fall is her favorite season as she loves the crisp air and changing leaves. Mrs. Wheatley is married and is a Mom of two girls that are 4 months and 4 years old. We're thankful for the positive impact Kirsten is having on the students at Hancock County High School!

PROOF that our Hancock County teachers are changing the lives of our students, striving to make confident and strong decoders and readers! (LETRS, Volume 1).