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Mrs. Candy Hoover, a Kindergarten teacher at Martinsburg Elementary School, was nominated by her colleague, Mrs. Judy Plummer, and by a parent, Mrs. Dianna Hoover, who was quick to point out that she was not related. In her nomination, Mrs. Plummer stated: “…When you walk into her kindergarten classroom, you are immediately impressed by the atmosphere of purposeful work. Students are confidently engaged in the learning task. It is evident that her students understand what is to be done and are assured that they will receive the support necessary to complete the task successfully. Year after year, Mrs. Hoover creates a safe, secure, supportive learning environment intended to bring out the best in each student.” In addition, Mrs. Plummer expresses appreciation for the support that Mrs. Hoover provides to the staff at Martinsburg Elementary School, stating: “Mrs. Hoover’s professionalism and dedication to excellence in education has contributed greatly to making Spring Cove the dynamic school district it is today. She has served in the past as computer technology coordinator for Martinsburg Elementary. Now back in the classroom, she continues to provide assistance to faculty and staff with technology questions. She often uses her planning periods or lunch periods to help other teachers navigate the computer system. She has even been known to make “house calls” to teachers who have encountered problems while doing computer work at home. She also regularly generates and shares special computer-designed forms to make record keeping more efficient.” Mrs. Dianna Hoover summed it up when she stated, “You can just tell that she loves what she does, and she is great at it.”
Mrs. Hoover has been with the district since she began teaching in September 1978 as a first grade teacher at Benson Elementary School in Martinsburg after graduating from Pennsylvania State University and then continued to the Martinsburg Elementary School when it was built in 1991. In 1997, when the school district installed new Power Mac computer labs in each of the three elementary buildings, she was approached about teaching morning kindergarten and then helping to maintain the three elementary computer labs in the afternoons doing minor repairs and installations. Mrs. Hoover also provided teacher workshops and teacher computer in-services, along with some small group student projects. She taught summer workshops for Spring Cove teachers and public internet workshops offered by the school district. Mrs. Hoover became certified as a FutureKids trainer and also did “Just In Time” teacher training as needed.
Several years later, she joined the Gifted Support staff to work on technology needs for students with technology goals in their IEPs. For several summers, she also taught Summer Kids Computer Camp at The Center. With these students, Mrs. Hoover worked on computer projects, slideshows, internet research and projects, operating digital cameras and scanners, editing photographs, and computer skills.
Mrs. Hoover has been honored by receiving several awards including “The Gift of Time” award, the “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” award, and various awards for her school website.
Mrs. Hoover now teaches full-day kindergarten at Martinsburg Elementary School and serves as the systems operator (sysop) for that building. She is also on the Spring Cove Technology Committee and the Learning Team at Martinsburg Elementary.
“Becoming a teacher and working with children is what I always wanted to do,” says Mrs. Hoover. One of the things that she enjoys most about teaching is the spontaneity and enthusiasm of the children. Mrs. Hoover feels a teacher has to be truly flexible and adapt daily to and appreciate the experiences her children are going through both at school and at home. “The children really appreciate and respect a good listener and knowing that you care enough to listen. It’s amazing what you can learn about their needs.”
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