Loretto Elementary Teacher of the Week

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A third grade teacher at Loretto Elementary goes above and beyond for her students; and she has a great track record. She's never had a student fail the FCAT in four years.

On the day we stopped by Ann Gerber's third grade class at Loretto Elementary, the students were having a reading lesson. They were all gathered together on the floor as Ms. Gerber read them a story. All the students listened and paid attention and participated. "What is the author doing in this story that makes you want to read more?," Ms. Gerber asks her students.

Catherine Fuentes raises her hand. "He's trying to get you more into the story."

Ms. Gerber works endless hours at school. The Principal, Chris Begley, says she is always thinking about her students and how she can help each one be a success. "She's one of those teachers that you really think are paid employees in the summer because she's always here working in her classroom doing extra things."

All that extra work really shows, especially in the FCAT success. "What we try to do is find the hardest things for them to learn and we introduce it at the beginning of the year, and then go back to it. Go back to it and go back to it," said Gerber.

After the reading lesson, it's the students' turn to read and write their own stories; something third grader Lee Klein enjoys. "She gives us the opportunity to read a lot and work at the same time."

The students are learning, having fun and doing their best. "If they can see they can do it themselves, then they want to do better," said Gerber.

The parent who nominated Ms. Gerber for Teacher of the Week says Ms. Gerber always expects the best from her students, and they always seem to give it to her.

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