Via Amarillo.com One taught a history lesson on a paintball field.
Another invited families to join in line dances after a Valentine's Day music program.
Their creativity in the classroom and passion for education set them apart Thursday as the 2010 Region 16 Teachers of the Year. The secondary award went to Jeff Frazer, a history and government teacher at Caprock High School. The elementary award went to Becky Casso, a music teacher at Hillside Elementary School.
Education involves communities, parents, school districts and students - and the efforts of more than 6,000 teachers employed by Amarillo-area public school districts, said John Bass, executive director of Region 16 Education Service Center.
"That teacher is really what makes learning happen," he said.
Each fall, Frazer's students in Advanced Placement U.S. History study the Civil War. Instead of relying on a textbook to explain war, Frazer goes with his students on one weekend to a paintball field for a battle. His students then write about their experiences. The activity also provides a way for students to get to know one another early in the school year.
"Some of the best papers that I have ever received come from that assignment," said Frazer, who is starting his 26th year in teaching.
Parents sometimes ask questions about the activity, and Frazer responds by letting them read the papers, he said.
"That's as close to war as I ever want them to get," said Frazer, 48.
Casso, whose career spans 29 years, finds a way for every child to connect with music, she said. Musicians are akin to doctors who specialize in different fields.
"Everyone's a musician," said Casso, who also plays French horn with the Amarillo Symphony. Some sing, some play instruments and others dance.
Casso, 51, enjoys helping young children find their natural talent, sort of like a miner who finds a diamond from a rock, she said. A sign caught her attention next to the polar bear exhibit at the Central Park Zoo in New York, which articulated her feelings about education. She challenged other teachers with the statement, as well.
"Let the beauty you love be what you do," she said.
