Stephanie Binder has been named Eastlawn Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Binder has been teaching for 12 years in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. She teaches fourth grade and teaches all subjects – math, reading, language, science, and social studies.
She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and worked in business for many years until she decided a change was necessary.
“I believe we are all graced with certain gifts and abilities. I knew mine was teaching,” Binder said.
So she went back to school at William Carey College and obtained a Master’s degree in Elementary Education.
Binder was nominated for teacher of the year by her peers and was honored to win the award.
“I humbly received the honor as teacher of the year realizing I represent all my colleagues who also invest in the students I teach to make them what they are. At my school, we are all teachers of the year.”
Knowing she had a gift and a passion for teaching, Binder was determined to devote her time and her work ethic into future leaders.
“I challenge my students to be responsible and to work hard. These are attributes I hope they take into their adulthood. My students leave my class knowing ‘If you give a man a fish he eats for one day, but give him a fishing pole he feeds himself forever.’”
Another mantra she is teaching her students is “If you do what is hard your life will be easy, but if you do what is easy, your life will be hard.”
Getting to work with other great teachers who keep her on her toes and the teaching process itself is what she loves most about teaching.
“When that light comes on for my students I know I have done my job.”
Binder is married to Sammie Binder and they have three daughters-Monica, Alisha, and Shannon, who also works at Eastlawn as an assistant while studying to become a teacher. She also has two grandchildren.
