Tricia Severs named Teacher of the Year

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Alice Byrne Elementary School teacher, Tricia Severs, was named Teacher of the year on Tuesday, at the 35th annual Teacher of the Year Banquet.

Mrs. Severs says she feels honored to represent Alice Byrne as well as the special education community, to shed light on students with exceptionalities.

Exceptionalities is a word severs uses in place of disabilities. 

“Everyone here has an exceptionality of some sort and we just email them where they’re at. Every student in here has their own individual needs so they all have an IEP or an individual educational plan and so we work to make sure that we’re helping them meet those needs,” said Severs.

When severs’s name was called at the banquet, she says she was in shock and when receiving her award, she was almost speechless.

"When I think about it, I’m still shocked. I’m just really grateful that I can represent special educators as well as other teachers, but really special educators well and that the cool kids on campus get pushed to the front a little bit,” said Severs.

Severs, who's from New York, has been a teacher for the last six years, but this is her first year teaching at Alice Byrne, making her even more thankful.

Not only thankful for the award, but for her her paraprofessionals in the classroom.

Mrs. Severs says she hopes to continue helping students with exceptionalities grow and meet their goals.