Local teacher named Teacher of the Year Finalist

SEELEY LAKE - "Teachers were the most intelligent, clever people who were really good at catching mistakes and telling you what you were doing wrong," was the perception Sheila Devins had about teachers while in grade school. "I just knew I would never be a teacher."

Currently a kindergarten teacher at Seeley Lake Elementary school, the Office of Public Instruction named Devins one of four 2023 Teacher of the Year Finalists from a record number of 57 nominees across Montana. Despite her lack of confidence in her ability to be "smart enough," others saw potential in Devins from an early age and praised her effort. Following in the footsteps of her Grandmother Bessie Holsinger, Devins became a teacher in the mid-1990s and has taught for 26 years. 

"From personal experience, Devins goes the extra mile to set up her students and parents for success in her classroom and beyond," read Devin's nomination letter written by a kindergartner parent. "Her life-long quest for learning, desire to empower her students and parents and success as an educator makes her an outstanding candidate for Montana Teacher of the Year!" 

Devins struggled in school due to health challenges. She followed her "smart" older brother Rod Vick through school and teachers were quick to compare her abilities to his.

"I watched myself do that slide from them thinking I had great potential down to the nearest to bottom reading group," Devins said. "I felt so misunderstood... I know a bit of how a student who is struggling or misunderstood may feel because I've been there. I think it helps me to see past some of that and see them in terms of their strengths and help them reach what they are capable of."

Devins friend and mentor Leeanne Kingston encouraged Devins to become a teacher. She started working with Missoula Head Start, in Seeley Lake in 1989. In 1996, Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg selected Devins to be the educator for the Seeley Lake Elementary Preschool. She has worked at SLE ever since teaching pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade and fifth grade. In 2007 she was named the Head Start Teacher of the Year. This was after her brother was named the 2001 Wisconsin Teacher of the Year.

"I was blown away and so surprised," Devins said after learning she was nominated. "I was also very honored."

After being nominated, the Office of Public Instruction required nominees to fill out an application to be considered for Teacher of the Year. The application included a resume, written references and responding to essay questions including providing a description of a typical lesson and identifying a critical issue in education. Of the 57 Montana teachers nominated, 16 applied for 2023 Montana Teacher of the Year. 

While Devins was reluctant to apply, she said, "When you are asked if you have something to say, then you better step up and say it."

In the application, Devins wrote about her research-based teaching approach where she focuses and praises students' effort. According to Robert Marzano, research indicates success can be attributed to ability, effort, other people or luck.

"The only one that you can have any control over is effort. The other three aren't malleable, there is nothing you can do about it," Devins said. "If you praise children's effort, that is the only thing they have control over. We need to see what kids are doing right and the effort that they are putting out and help them use that to improve their skills."

Devins added that praising a child's ability or intelligence might actually cause them to perform less because they may feel the expectation is too high for something they have no control over.

In addition to recognizing effort, Devins also highlighted the need to intentionally teach social skills. This is something she has been teaching for more than 25 years and she hopes can be a way to address the problem of incivility and dissension that seems to have taken hold of the culture.

"We have to teach kids how to be a community of learners, how to listen to other's views without attacking. While we don't have to think like [someone else], we can listen when others are talking," Devins said. "If you are passionate about something, how do you express that and to do it without treading on someone else?"

After review of the written applications, a committee member wrote, "Ms. Devins clearly is a leader among educators. Her leadership in education is clearly felt in her classroom, school, community and state. She is a strong candidate for Montana Teacher of the Year.'"

Devins was among four finalists. The other three finalists were Kris Gulman of Hamilton, Catherine Matthews of Bozeman and Jake Warner of Helena. Each received their bachelor's degrees from the Montana University System. Devins had the most classroom experience with 26 years.

"These four teachers represent the uniqueness of our Montana schools and were chosen for their leadership in and out of the classroom," said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen in a press release. "I appreciate the continued service of our finalists to our students. Now, more than ever, every classroom deserves a high-quality teacher. Your dedication to putting our Montana students first is appreciated by all."

On Sept. 6, a selection committee made up of representatives from the Office of Public Instruction, the Governor's Office, the School Administrators of Montana, the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, the Montana Board of Public Instruction, the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education and the 2022 Montana Teacher of the Year interviewed each finalist for the 2023 Montana Teacher of the Year. 

"We are so excited that Teacher Sheila was named as a finalist for Montana's Teacher of the year. She has been an amazing asset to SLE and our community," said SLE Superintendent Josh Gibbs.

Gibbs said Devins supported student success by building a great foundation between families and the school through things like "listening conferences" and positive communication all around. She has also been a great mentor for new staff members and gone out of her way to help assure them so they feel supported.

"These are only a few of the reasons that demonstrate why she is a finalist for teacher of the year," Gibbs said.

On Sept. 20, Arntzen announced that Matthews was selected as the 2023 Montana Teacher of the Year. Matthews is a preschool special education teacher at Hyalite Elementary School in Bozeman. She will go on to represent Montana in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

While Devins was not chosen to represent Montana at the national level, she feels being recognized as a finalist adds credence to her professional views.

"There are people that agreed with [those things] at the highest level of education in the state," Devins said. "I really feel that it [confirms] that they also thought that the things that I think are leading issues in education are important and they need to be happening."

"Teacher of the Year is an amazing honor to be considered for," Gibbs said. "We are proud of Shelia and we are so grateful to have her as a member of our SLE team!"

Visit OPI's website for more information about Teacher of the Year: http://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Teaching-Learning/Montana-Teacher-of-the-Year.