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Neptune Middle School’s 6th grade English and reading teacher Tamera Forrester-Bell was the recipient of a classroom redesign — one “for the books.” PHOTO/CHRIS MILLER
Neptune Middle School and Addition Financial teamed up to make teacher Tamera Forrester-Bell’s dream come true, one that her students will share in when school starts Wednesday.
The Fall 2022 school year is approaching and some students will notice a difference in her sixth-grade classroom. Through a partnership with Addition Financial, Forrester-Bell, an NMS English and reading teacher, got to see her made-over classroom last week.
The whole room got an aesthetic fresh coat of paint, a corner reading nook got freshened up and updated, and Forrester-Bell will now get to work from a new desk.
“I couldn’t picture what they would have done, but it’s amazing,” the teacher said after a loud burst of applause, “I’m truly grateful. I’m sure the kids are going to be truly grateful because, for me, at the beginning of the year, I tried to create classroom where kids can come in and feel safe and begin to grow as we build our community. The energy that is now coming from the room as they come in, they will definitely have fun learning and engage with each other which is ultimately what we want is to learn and engage.”
Forrester-Bell circled the room in disbelief of what was established as her new classroom.
As her peers along with Addition Financial watched her humble reaction, she said she these changes will help her better engage her students and educate them in a positive manner.
“Our favorite thing about this is, this is the time when the award teacher receives is because of a fantastic essay. We receive a lot of submission throughout Osceola County and you by far had the best submission,’” said Addition Financial president and CEO Kevin Miller. “Now as a reading and writing teacher, you can tell your students that you never know where a good easy will take you.”
“The school by and large benefited from this prize because we have a high-valued teacher working within our walls,” said Neptune Middle Vice Principal Tom Decker. “I came this morning and I think that everything is a little bit nicer. The teacher workstation is unreal, I want one for myself!”
Addition Financial has made this an annual program in Osceola County; Poinciana High School was the 2021 recipient.
