Theresa (Trace) Gibson

Digital Student Teaching Portfolio: http://tag0015.weebly.com/

135 Fox Hollow Drive, Madison, AL 35758 Phone: (801) 472-8744 Email: tagibson@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Objective
I was born to be a teacher, and my main goal is to reach, encourage, and inspire the next generation. To make
this possible, I work first to gain students’ trust, and forge meaningful relationships with them. To accomplish
this, I continually convey my genuine concern for their success and wellbeing, and express my earnest belief in
their potential. Implanting and nurturing a “growth mindset” concerning their abilities and capacity to grow and
learn, while also instilling within them the merit of hard work, persistence, and resilience, is the foundation of
my teaching; I can’t teach them anything until I establish those principles. I know that this growth mindset they
develop must also extend to their peers, and their community; they need to value diversity, and view one
another as true learning and academic resources. The environment of my classroom is pivotal; I focus on
cultivating a feeling of community and camaraderie in each class I teach; one in which tolerance, respect, and
compassion are prerequisites. As I work to help my students gain confidence and master skills that are
necessary for success, they will make connections in their studies and be better prepared for college, career, and
all of their life pursuits.

Philosophy
I know I’m an idealist, but I believe that teachers can truly change the world through their impact on students.
Ours is a tremendous opportunity, responsibility, and stewardship: to lead and guide young people, shaping
their academic and extra-curricular identities, while championing their confidence and best
interests. Classrooms can change lives, and teachers are key in determining whether the changes students
experience within those walls are positive or negative.

Teaching Experience
High school Teacher, Bob Jones high school, Madison, AL (Jan. ‘16 - Present)
Taught various high school classes, including Freshman Composition, Pre-AP English 10, Regular English 10,
Career Prep A, and Career Prep B.

BJHS Student Government Sponsor for 10th grade Executive Board and Senate (Aug. ‘17 - Present)
Lead and supervised tenth grade SGA executive board and senate, which includes homecoming activities, and
various service and school leadership projects.

BJHS National English Honor Society Co-sponsor (Aug. ‘17 - Present)

Co-sponsor, along with Mallory Poarch, for NHES at Bob Jones. Led, supervised, and organized various
ceremonies, activities, and service projects.

Coach, Group Fitness Instructor, and Certified Personal Trainer (March ’03 – Present)
Coach for various groups (including coaching “dryland” conditioning for Bob Jones high school girls’ swim
team), and Fitness Instructor for various group fitness classes (some were professional, employed at gyms, and
others were volunteer, with a church group, or group of teachers/friends). Classes I have led include Dance
Fitness, Zumba, Turbo-Kick, Kickboxing with bags, Pilates, Strength and Sculpt, and even Step Aerobics. I
have also been certified through AFAA as a personal physical trainer, and have trained individual clients in
physical fitness, usually in a gym setting, while also counseling them on food and health habits. (Locations for
these three roles: Madison, Alabama; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Sierra Vista, Arizona; Lehi,
Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Portales, New Mexico).

Preschool Teacher (June ’07 –Jan. ‘08)

Taught three to four year-old children at Learning Dynamics Preschool in Lehi, Utah.
Eastern New Mexico University HPE Instructor (June ‘03 – Dec. ‘05)
Faculty member, responsible for multiple sections of HPE (health and physical education) courses. Duties were
mainly teaching group exercise classes with students, but also included classroom instruction, assigning and
grading written response papers, and advising students on exercise methodology.
Teacher, Missionary Training Center (June ‘01 – Oct. ‘02)
Taught newly-called Latter-Day Saint (LDS) missionaries in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT.
Instructed missionaries in effective teaching methods, the development of interpersonal skills, and
scriptural/religious content knowledge.

Education
Professional Development Opportunities as a member of teaching staff at BJHS (Jan ‘16 - Present)
While teaching at BJHS I have attended numerous trainings on a monthly basis, all of them related to
developing effective teaching strategies. These include consistent “LTL” staff trainings, “A+ College-Ready
A.P.” training, Dyslexia Training, “Building the Instructional Framework,” “Differentiating for English
Learners” training, “Ed Camp” for Madison City Schools, “Child Abuse Mandated Reporters” training, book
studies like The Strategic Teacher by Harvey F. Silver, Richard W Strong, & Matthew J. Perini, and Quality
Questioning: Research-Based Practice to Engage Every Learner by Jackie Acree Walsh & Beth Dankert Sattes
M.A., University of Alabama at Huntsville (Graduated December 2015). Masters in English, with a
certification in secondary education. On Dean’s list throughout my time as a graduate student; member of the
International Honor Society in Education, “Kappa Delta Pi;” certified in Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI); and
awarded “Outstanding M.Ed. Student Award at the Academic Honors Convocation, April 12, 2016. GPA: 4.0.
B.A., Brigham Young University (Graduated Dec. 2002). Major: English, Minors: Psychology and Religion.
GPA: 3.27.
Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer (Certified March ‘03). Certified as a personal
fitness trainer and group fitness instructor through AFAA—Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.
High School Diploma, Bainbridge high school (Graduated in 1995). Graduated in the top 2% of graduating
class; member of National Junior Honors Society; selected for “Allstate Chorus” all four years; member of the
S.A.T. “1000 Club;” member elite “Show Choir” (performed around the state); chosen to represent Bainbridge
high school for “Georgia Governor’s Honors” in music, and voted “Most Talented” in my graduating class.

Skills
Music: I love music (I sing, play guitar, and play piano), and I bring that aspect of my life into the classroom. I
believe music is a valuable tool to reach students, and I have observed the powerful impact of music in my own
classroom. I love encouraging students to express themselves through music and develop their own musical
talents have seen how this leads to more meaningful writing, reading, and communication.
Drama: I have been involved in plays and musicals throughout my life, and would love to become involved in
a secondary school’s theater program. I love bringing a story to life by reading aloud and in character

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(modeling the use of “voice”). I know that incorporating drama is worthwhile in an ELA classroom setting, and
have enjoyed employing, and encouraging students to participate within this genre of rhetoric.
Dance: I was in dance and gymnastics throughout my childhood, and often performed tap, ballet, and jazz
(usually with my sister) at various venues in our small town. I also loved choreographing new dances, and that
love of rhythm, dancing, and choreography has transferred into many job/volunteer positions, particularly the
group exercise classes I teach (such as Zumba). I have taught Zumba to the swim team girls I coach, and also on
various “Patriot Path” days, when students are able to choose a “path” or activity to participate in. I know my
capacities and love for dance are useful in a high school setting, and can do wonders in forging bonds among
students and faculty.
Writing: What English teacher doesn’t love to write? I know that great writing does not just “happen,” and am
a advocate of continual revision and reworking any writing we do. I often like to model my thought process out
loud in front of students, showing them the “process,” and giving them a voice with their input as well. This
seems to be much more effective than merely giving them a rubric for the “product,” with limited tools to
transport them to that goal. I write with my students, and we will write often.
Art: I greatly appreciate and enjoy all forms of art, and love to draw, create, and rethink everyday objects. One
of my “multiple intelligences” is visual-spatial, or aesthetic, which is obvious even in how I organize and
arrange my classroom and supplies. I love discussing and analyzing rhetorical devices found in photos and art
with students, and have witnessed how this mode of teaching and focus can reach students who do not
ordinarily connect to linguistics or English language arts. I love exploring the power of art and creativity with
all of my students, and view it as another way to encourage their individual abilities and skills.
People Skills: I am big fan of people, and love learning about different cultures, experiences, and viewpoints. I
take pride in winning over skeptics, and always focus on praising and encouraging others as they share their
stories and communicate their goals. My greatest joy comes from helping people around me come to see and
reach their true, unique potential—whether it’s students, neighbors, coworkers, or strangers out in public. My
students know they can always visit Mrs. Gibson to share stories, get advice, and be reminded of how
worthwhile they are. I am proud of my efforts to bring the best out of students, especially those who are
considered hard or “problem” kids; it all starts with reaching out in love and acceptance.
Multi-Tasking: I have spent over fifteen years as a military wife and mother, managing our household and
children (often on my own while my husband) through nine moves and several job/ volunteer positions. These
experiences have prepared me to juggle multiple responsibilities, and it is important to me that I always fill
these various roles to the best of my ability. For example, three years ago my husband was called up on an army
deployment while I was in the middle of graduate school; taking five graduate-level classes, It was not the best
timing for us as a family, but I managed to take care of our three children and their extracurricular activities,
while also finishing up my classes, completing my final thesis, and fulfilling my internship/student teaching
assignment (all while maintaining straight A’s in all my classes).
Non-Teaching Job and Volunteer Positions: I have had many opportunities to volunteer and serve in various
capacities throughout our moves and travels as a military family. I have served in our church as a teacher of the
Relief Society (our women’s group), a youth leader (for teens), primary teacher (younger children), a pianist,

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and choir director. I have also worked in retail, worked as a restaurant server, and fulfilled positions such as
FRG Leader (“Family Readiness Group”—supports families of deployed soldiers).

References

Professional References

Mrs. Sylvia Lambert

Principal, Bob Jones high school
Email: slambert@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Phone: (256) 772-2547

Mrs. Amy Thaxton

Assistant Principal, Bob Jones high school
Email: athaxton@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Phone: (256) 772-2547

Dr. Jason O’Brien

Assistant Professor of Education, UAH
Email: jason.obrien@uah.edu
Phone: (256) 824-6181

Mrs. Laura Beth Barnes

Supervisor to UAH secondary English interns
Composition teacher at Calhoun community college
Email: lbb07@uah.edu
Phone: (256) 426-3012

Personal References

Mrs. Kristen Bergeson

English teacher, BJHS
Friend and fellow English teacher
Email: kabergeson@madisoncity.k12.al.us
Phone: (256) 772-2547

Ms. Lorraine Anderson

Business development professional
Fellow graduate student
Email: lma0003@uah.edu
Phone: (256) 653-4548

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