Phillips Charter School teacher Jennifer Veveiros has come full circle.
A fifth-grade multi-subject teacher and English language development coach at Phillips who was recently named Napa County teacher of the year for 2010, she spends her days teaching students who remind her of younger versions of herself. Veveiros, who said she was a “loud” and sometimes mischievous child, is now a mentor for many students facing academic challenges, language barriers or special economic or family obstacles.
“She has an empathy for the students that she teaches that comes out of her own background,” Napa County Office of Education Superintendent Barbara Nemko said after Veveiros earned the honor from the Napa County Office of Education. Veveiros is now in the running for the statewide teacher of the year award, determined by the state Department of Education.
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“She was raised by a single mom who had to work two jobs (and) she came from a challenging background economically,” Nemko said. “ … She credits all her teachers who saw something in her to push her to believe in herself and get a good education and said now it’s (up to her) to return the favor.”
Accustomed to taking students under her wing throughout her eight-year career at Phillips, Veveiros witnessed many student transformations. She recalled the change she saw in one student who initially put off classmates with her attitude.
“I really have it in my heart for these students who are lost. … I would let her come to my class after school and help me with things. I worked really hard with her and got the class to buy in (to the idea) that everybody’s important,” she said.
The girl’s classmates radically changed their opinion of the young student by the close of the school year and with Veveiros’ help, she even landed a scholarship to a week-long 4-H camp.
“By the end of the year, she was very popular. She is very smart, passed her (standardized tests), was in the highest reading level and had lots of friends. … She’s in middle school now and she comes to visit me,” Veveiros said.
Veveiros, a Napa native, Vintage High School graduate, wife and mother of two daughters, said she also enjoys having her former teachers and principals as colleagues.
Dan Roberts, her sixth-grade reading instructor, teaches today at Phillips. Julie Herdell, Veveiros’ former third-grade teacher, is now principal at West Park Elementary School.
Describing the Phillips staff as “a close-knit family,” Veveiros said she has no plans to put down roots anywhere else.
“I really am staying at Phillips because … I feel like I’m needed,” she said. “A lot of student families (struggle financially). I was raised that way and I feel if it wasn’t for my teachers, I probably wouldn’t be where I am. I feel like it’s my calling.”
Phillips Principal Matt Manning said Veveiros’ strengths include teaching without passing judgment on troubled or otherwise challenged students.
“She meets them where they are academically and socially and gets them up to speed (and) really supports them in getting to grade level,” he said. “That really strong belief in her students’ ability to succeed coupled with her skill level is a really winning combination.”