Timmons dances her way to ‘Teacher of the Year’
Bonita Vista High staff pose with dance teacher Christine Timmons (holding the flowers) as they congratulate her achievement of receiving ‘Teacher of the Year.’ Timmons smiles under her mask as the dance team are there to celebrate with her.
March 26, 2022
On Feb. 8, Dance I, Dance II, International Baccalaureate Dance and Get to The Pointe (GTP) dance team teacher Christine Timmons, was chosen to be ‘Teacher of the Year’. Following this, it has just been announced on Mar. 14, Timmons was to be recognized as the ‘District Teacher of the Year’. Overall making an impact on the Bonita Vista High (BVH) campus for roughly 17 years, Timmons has encouraged and inspired students to learn the elements of dancing.
“The school did not notify me beforehand. Dr. Del Rosario announced it [to me] and the students I was with, in the gym during my zero period,” Timmons said.
Timmons did not expect to be announced BVH’s 2021-2022 ‘Teacher of the Year’. However, this news is no surprise to her students. This award can be seen as an acknowledgment of Timmons’s great leadership. For GTP dance team Secretary and senior Giovanna Sanchez, she expressed that she has known Timmons since her freshman year of high school.
“I had heard of Mrs. Timmons from my sister because she was also a student here. She introduced me [to Timmons] in my freshman year. I remember thinking ‘wow, she is a really chill teacher’. [Though] initially, I thought that Mrs. Timmons was a little intimidating. But as I [became] more involved in dance, we have a connection now and we’re super close,” Sanchez said. I could tell that she really cared for her students and she wanted me to feel welcomed in the team. — GTP dance team Captain and senior Janell Skinner
Sanchez explained that Timmons always made sure to create the best experience for her students. During distance learning, it was challenging for the majority of teachers to create an environment that allowed for connection with others. However, this barrier did not stop Timmons from encouraging her students to remain engaged in learning about dance.
“Especially during the pandemic, Mrs. Timmons did a good job at motivating the dance team to keep going. She would help guide us through different dances that we could record online or choreograph together. She was supportive, especially coming back to school,” Sanchez said.
Likewise, GTP dance team Captain and senior Janell Skinner described the time she personally met Timmons. Going more into her experience, Skinner explained what it is like to be a student in Timmons’s class and how she has gone above and beyond for her students.
“She was a little intimidating at first, [but] she really pushed me to become better at dancing and also as a person. She’s really sweet. I could tell that she really cared for her students and she wanted me to feel welcomed in the team,” Skinner said.
Based on the experiences of Sanchez and Skinner, Timmons has shown care and kindness towards her students. Skinner was excited to know that Timmons was going to be announced ‘Teacher of the Year’. Therefore, days before the announcement, Assistant Principal of Student Activities Christopher Alvarez notified Skinner of plans to surprise Timmons for the award.
“Mr. Alvarez texted me [that] he wanted to surprise her [Timmons]. He told me the week before that he wanted me and my officers to know [about the news] so we could plan with our schedule. We wanted to make sure [the surprise] wouldn’t intervene with our plans,” Skinner said.
Leading up to the day of the ‘Teacher of the Year’ announcement, Timmon’s morning routine became very hectic. Timmons had to teach a dance to the Physical Education (P.E.) freshmen classes with the hopes of encouraging students to join P.E. dance for their sophomore years.
“She was teaching P.E. classes [a] dance. She was already stressed about that. [But] all of a sudden, the counselors and Alvarez came in [the gym and said] ‘congrats, Mrs. Timmons on being Teacher of the Year’ and she [was] really happy.” Skinner said.
Though the day did not start off as perfect, with the support of her students and the award, Timmons felt grateful for the opportunity to be announced as ‘Teacher of the Year’. Overall, Timmons has had a passion for dance ever since she was little. Timmons feels grateful for being able to teach the subject and share her passion and love for dance with her students.
“Award or not, I always feel motivated to work hard and provide the best that I can for my students and our school community. I want to continue teaching dance until I retire, I can’t imagine my life without it. Although I am honored to win Teacher of the Year, I feel all of our teachers have really done amazing as we teach through this pandemic,” Timmons said.
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