Bringing Joy To The Classroom

For Lisa Trott, this year’s Charleston County School District Teacher of the Year, it’s all about bringing “joy” into the classroom
Trott teaches fourth grade at the Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary, and is twice a National Board certified teacher.
Thankfully, Trott narrowly missed a career in the sordid world of journalism, before getting married and beginning a family with her local contractor/musician husband.
With kids underfoot, she needed a job that was a better fit for her family, and so she returned to school and earned a four-year degree in education from the College of Charleston. She’s also one of three CofC alums locally to win their county’s Teacher of the Year award this year. Jennifer Fusco won it for Dorchester District 2 and Stephanie Wallace won it for Berkeley County School District. Dr. Frances C. Welch, Dean of CofC’s School of Education, Health, and Human Performance called the feat “the triple crown.” CofC last had a Teacher of the Year “triple crown” in 2007.
“Anything you teach, even to low-learners, you have to bring joy to their day,” said Trott, who incorporates multiple subjects into her curriculum. “If they enjoy it, they’re going to learn it.”
Trott, a 19-year teaching veteran, said she loves all the different ways her school provides through the arts to enhance learning. “You’ve got to pull in the creativity and arts; that’s where kids enjoy what they’re doing,” she said.
This year’s final book report, kids were able to work in small groups and produce their own video reports on science fiction books they’d read.
Teaming with the Charleston Animal Society, Trott has also pulled dogs into the classroom. That’s right; dogs.
Her idea was to team slower readers with dogs. The kids read to the dogs, which, she said, give nothing but positive affirmation to the struggling readers and don’t care or judge if they stumble or mispronounce a word.
Nobody wants to learn by rote, Trott said, adding that kids with a problem becomes a “superstar” in her class when seen with a dog in tow.
Next for Trott will be earning a master’s degree.