Ashley Dillman of Bluffs Middle School has been named TC & More’s Teacher of the Week.
Dillman is in her third of teaching seventh-grade math. Before that, she was the Alternative Learning Center coordinator at BMS for two years.
Dillman was nominated for TC & More’s Teacher of the Week honor by Jennifer Schwartz.
“My daughter was new to the Scottsbluff Middle School last year, and Ms. Dillman kindly made her feel welcome and really got to know her as both her teacher and coach,” Schwartz said. “I speak from experience when I say my daughter is not always the easiest to teach. She can be stubborn and has an overly confident presence. I thoroughly appreciated that Ms. Dillman accepted these ‘often difficult’ qualities to teach and even encouraged my kiddo to embrace them.
“Ashley invested time in getting to know and understand my daughter, rather than dismiss her because of her strong, proud personality. Even though she is not my daughter’s current teacher, she still allows her to come in and get extra support in math when she needs it. She expects my daughter to tap into her abilities and to use that assertive personality to channel that energy into good study habits and positive leadership. She is my child’s biggest cheerleader when it comes to nurturing my daughter’s mindset in her abilities to do math and be a good person. I am thankful she sees my daughter’s potential and expects it from her in both school and sports.”
Dillman, who graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 2000 and earned bachelor’s degrees in business and education from Chadron State College, also coaches seventh-grade volleyball at BMS. In addition, she’s the team leader for the seventh-grade BMS Bobcat team, and she also teaches Saturday school and does after-school tutoring at BMS.
Dillman said she enjoys teaching at BMS.
“Everyone always asks, ‘Why did you choose middle school?’” she said. “I absolutely love it. I think it’s a time when you can really have a positive impact on a kid’s life – when they’re really trying to figure themselves out. That’s what drew me to teaching in the first place. [Before becoming a teacher] I had some people working for me who were in high school, but they just didn’t have a support system in place. I felt like I wanted to try to be a person who kids could count on and would be there for them before they got to high school.”
For being named TC & More’s Teacher of the Week, Dillman will receive a $10 gift certificate to TC & More, which is located at 1621 Broadway Ave. in downtown Scottsbluff. Gift certificates may be picked up at TC & More.
TC & More, which is the only business in western Nebraska that sells educational materials, offers a wide selection of classroom decor for area teachers. In addition, TC & More offers home decor, gifts, purses, toys, and so much more. TC & More, which encourages people to “Like” its Facebook page, also provides free gift wrapping and a 10 percent discount for seniors and military personnel.
If you would like to nominate an area teacher for TC & More’s Teacher of the Week honor, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, teachers honored as TC & More’s Teacher of the Week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in January to Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy.
