by Jen Myers

(Each month, Wellpoint,  Lowell Public Schools and InsideLowell honor a Lowell teacher for their exemplary work in the classroom and for going the extra mile to serve as a positive influence in the lives of their students)

It is one of the hottest days of the school year, but the fifth-graders in Mrs. Pollard’s class on the third floor of the Stoklosa Middle School are not complaining.

They file into the room and quietly get to work, some in teams, others individually, studying the U.S. Constitution. There are a couple of extra visitors working on their computers in the back of the room – students who had difficulty behaving for substitute teachers in other classes, but are total angels in Mrs. Pollard’s class – a place of order, calm, and mutual respect where everyone feels welcomed.

Welcoming others is something at which Cheryl Pollard, who teaches fifth-grade English Language Arts and Social Studies at the Stoklosa, excels.

“Mrs. Pollard has gone above and beyond to meet student/staff needs to begin the school year,” said Stoklosa Principal James Cardaci. “Cheryl has spearheaded many additional duties to ensure her colleagues starting new were onboarded and welcomed at the Stoklosa. We are fortunate to have her as an educator.”

The humble Pollard brushes off the praise, saying it is just something she likes to do. She reaches out to new staff, especially those on the fifth-grade team, to offer an ear if they have any questions and to take them on a tour of the school to help them get acclimated to the building and their new colleagues.

“In addition to simply making new staff feel welcomed the onboarding process is vital for helping new teachers feel confident and valued which can impact their decision to stay with us and the teaching profession,” she said.

Pollard’s thoughtfulness in helping people feel a sense of belonging can be traced back to when she was in second-grade and met the teacher who made her want to be a teacher.

When she was a child, her family lived in Hawaii. As the new kid in school in second grade, Cheryl was uncomfortable and did not feel like she fit in anywhere.

“My teacher (Mrs. Peters) took extra time out of her day to make sure I was doing alright.” Pollard recalled. “I was very lonely then and she did a lot to make me feel welcomed. Her kindness, compassion, and support gave me the confidence to start making new friends and focus on learning. This interaction stuck with me my whole life and inspired me to do the same for others.”

Pollard’s family later moved to Lowell. She graduated from Lowell High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Keene State College and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Fitchburg State University. She is currently enrolled in a CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies) program in Education Leadership Management.

Pollard has worked for Lowell Public Schools for more than 25 years, the last six at the Stoklosa. She previous taught at the Moody Elementary School and the Daley Middle School.

Although she has taught first, fifth, and sixth grade throughout her career, she says fifth grade has been the most rewarding experience for her.

“One of my favorite parts about teaching fifth-graders is their ability to have deep discussions about virtually any topic,” Pollard said.  “I love having them sit in front of me, read a book to them, and then have a deep discussion about character motivation.”

“Some of the topics we teach evoke great, thoughtful, compassionate conversations,” she continued. “These deep and thoughtful conversations initially take explicit guidance and support but as they grow and bloom as learners, the conversations do too. As a teacher, I try to channel these conversations into more productive talk and set high expectations when they can and cannot talk freely.”

In ELA the fifth-graders explore fiction and non-fiction topics in reading and writing. Most of the students, Pollard said, really enjoy writing argumentative essays, but they have also really become engaged by a new unit on graphic novel writing, which allows them to create and illustrate characters and build their own narrative.

In Social Studies they learn about the Revolutionary War and the formation of the new nation including the Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution, and three branches of government.

After learning about these subjects, they have to pick one and put together a presentation to be delivered to the class – this is how they express what they have learned. It is not about simply memorizing and spitting out facts; these students are charged with proving their understanding of the material, a practice that helps them with their presentation and public speaking skills as well.

“Because fifth-graders love socializing, working in groups is one of their favorite activities,” she said. “Setting clear expectations and rules for group work is essential, but they generally excel and become more engaged when working with others. Maintaining high expectations and having a well thought out classroom management plan is essential for teaching fifth-graders.”

Mrs. Pollard has a clear wish for what she wants her students to take with them when they leave her classroom at the end of the school year: “Be proud of how far you’ve come and never stop reaching for the stars.”

All About Mrs. Pollard:

Hobbies: Reading, biking, and cooking
Dream Vacation: Aulani Resort in Hawaii
Favorite Song to sing in the car: anything from Hamilton
Favorite Meal: Sushi
Favorite snack: popcorn
Favorite movie: Brother Bear
Favorite Book: The Beach House by James Patterson
Favorite TV Show: Top Chef
Favorite Fictional Character: Alex Cross