By JESS PEREGOY

jep024@latech.edu

 

Tucked away on Tech’s campus, one A. E. Phillips Lab School teacher of 14 years received the state’s highest teaching honor.

Brenda Lofton, a teacher at A. E. Phillips Lab School, has been selected as the state of Louisiana’s Teacher of the Year.

Lofton teaches sixth, seventh and eighth grade math and science at A. E. Phillips Lab School and has been teaching for 20 years.

“I’ve taught first and fourth grade before, but I just love teaching middle schoolers,” she said.

Principal Karynn Wiggins said the school is proud of Lofton.

“Our whole school is so excited,” Wiggins said. “She’s such a wonderful teacher and is very deserving of the honor.”

Lofton was selected as the school’s teacher of the year and then went on to compete at the parish, regional and state level.

“I don’t know why I won this award, really,” Lofton said. “I went to regional competition three years ago, and my application package didn’t change this year. It’s what I believe in as a teacher and that hasn’t changed.”

Lofton was informed of her award Oct. 21. She said, for the first time, she was distracted while teaching.

“I didn’t really expect to win, but I was watching the clock until the time I was supposed to find out,” she said.

“It was strange because usually no matter what’s going on, when I walk into my classroom, teaching is all I think about.”

Lofton will go on to attend several conferences for the rest of the year and will even attend Space Camp.

She will visit Washington, D.C., in April for the national competition where she and the other finalists will meet President George W. Bush.

“I’m so excited about going to Washington D.C. and meeting the other teachers selected across the country and the president,” she said. “I’m just so overwhelmed by the honor. I never expected it.”

Lofton said helping her students understand something for the first time is the most rewarding part of her job.

“Getting to help students is the best part about my job,” Lofton said. “To be able to show them something and find ways to help them understand it; it is a challenge, but it’s just fun.”

Lofton also said she enjoys the interaction she has with her students.

“The sixth, seventh and eighth graders are my favorite age group [to teach],” she said.  “They’re just such a fun age. They have a sense of humor and so much energy. It makes my job fun.”