• Announcements
    • Staff Bulletin
    • MCPS TV
    • Press Releases
January 29, 2023
  • Montgomery County Public Schools
  • Announcements
  • Staff Bulletin
  • MCPS TV
  • Press Releases

Wheaton HS Composition Assistant Named Supporting Services Employee of the Year

MCPS Bulletin Posted On February 27, 2019
0


0
Shares
  • Share On Facebook
  • Tweet It

High school students spend a lot of time reading and writing. At any given time, they could be reading and trying to understand 20 or more texts at once. Leslie Atkin has seen the stresses of many of these students up close.

Atkin has served as an English composition assistant (ECA) in MCPS for 11 years, the last five at Wheaton High School. An ECA is called on to help students with the writing process.

After seeing the anxiety that some students faced, she came up with two innovative solutions that have changed the game for Wheaton students. These are among the reasons why she has been named this year’s Supporting Services Employee of the Year.

Three years ago, Atkin launched a weeklong summer seminar where rising seniors could attend free support sessions, ending up with a polished college essay before the school year began. This gave students a head start on the college application process.

Atkin spends a lot of her time outside of work reading the novels that English teachers assign so she was better prepared to offer feedback to students. Students acknowledge that Atkin dedicates an enormous amount of time to make sure that students put forth their best selves in their writing. She “not only inspires her students to write with depth and voice, but also encourages them to do so with optimism and grit,” wrote one senior. “Whether I’ve had a short question about revising a paragraph or been completely blank on ideas for an essay prompt, Ms. Atkin has been there to walk me through it all with patience and wisdom.”

The workshop has proven so successful that this year, when senior English classes assigned the college essay, nearly one-quarter already had completed essays ready to submit.

Atkin also established a Writing Center at Wheaton. Open each day at lunch and after school, the Writing Center offers a place where students in any course can bring in their writing assignments and receive feedback. When the center’s initial traffic was slow, Atkin started an advertising campaign, creating promotional flyers and a video that teachers could show to encourage students to take advantage of it. Today, there is rarely a slow day in the center, and students report improved grades on their assignments.

In addition, Atkin has brought classes to supporting services staff in the county. She noticed that while there are lots of training options for SEIU members, none existed specifically for ECAs. Today, she prepares class materials and teaches punctuation classes. The classes also offer an opportunity for ECAs to connect and share best practices.

Colleagues report that day-to-day efforts are what set Atkin apart from her peers.

One new teacher declared, “I don’t know what I would do without her,” while a veteran educator said Atkin is “able to help students focus on what they need to do to answer the prompt. Having her in the room makes my job easier because I can more easily monitor students’ progress as she is conferencing with students one-on-one.”

Atkin will be among the honorees at the annual Champions for Children celebration on Thursday, April 25.

The Supporting Services Employee of the Year award is given by SEIU Local 500.

 

 

0
Shares
  • Share On Facebook
  • Tweet It


Champions for ChildrenLeslie AtkinSEIU Local 500Supporting Services Employee of the YearWheaton High School


  • MCPS Bulletin

    Print the Current Issue of the Bulletin

  • Submit

    • General News Story Idea
    • Retirement Celebration
    • Shout Out
  • Staff Bulletin Current Issue

    • Job Fair for Teachers Set for Jan. 30
      January 25, 2023
    • Don’t Miss Family Forum on Fentanyl on Jan. 28
      January 25, 2023
    • Good News
      January 25, 2023
    • How Is Your School or Office Celebrating Black History...
      January 25, 2023
    • LEAAP Offering Scholarships to Graduating Seniors
      January 25, 2023
    • Learn How to Become a Certified Teacher in Feb. 2 Meeting
      January 25, 2023
    • EAP Winter 2023 Newsletter Now Available
      January 25, 2023
    • Donate a Car; Get a Tax Deduction
      January 25, 2023
    • Get a Little Drama in Your Life!
      January 25, 2023
    • Winter Parent Academy Schedule Now Available
      January 25, 2023
    • Entries for Poster Contest Due April 3
      January 25, 2023
    • In Memoriam
      January 25, 2023
    • Montgomery County Public Libraries Joins Washington...
      January 25, 2023
    • Credit Union Offering Professional Development to Staff,...
      January 25, 2023


  • QuickNotes Languages

    • español (Spanish)
    • français (French)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • 中文 (Chinese)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • አማርኛ (Amharic)
    • English
    • Portuguese
  • Recent Posts

    • Job Fair for Teachers Set for Jan. 30
    • Don’t Miss Family Forum on Fentanyl on Jan. 28
    • Good News
  • Connect with MCPS


  • Announcements
  • Staff Bulletin
  • MCPS TV
  • Press Releases
© Copyright Montgomery County Public Schools
Press enter/return to begin your search