Linda Hileman

Teachers today face incredible challenges in their effort to engage students in the learning process. With television, video games, and active extracurricular lifestyles, children receive a constant stream of stimuli. How does an educator effectively grab students’ attention and infuse a love for learning? One of Freeport Area’s teachers is paving a path of success in this pursuit. When the fifth graders at Sarver’s Buffalo Elementary School arrive in Linda Hileman’s classroom, they are greeted by the soft bubbling of a garden fountain and the calming melodies of Mozart. Linda endeavors to begin each morning and maintain all day a pleasant, peaceful atmosphere conducive to learning. In addition, her teaching approach provides a stimulating environment that captivates her students.

One way that Linda immerses her students in the excitement of learning is by supplying fun-filled games. Every morning the children discover new things about countries around the world through a game called “Mystery Country.” Linda puts up a daily clue about a certain country, and the students become investigators hoping to solve the mystery. They can only make one guess per week, so they are encouraged to wait for several clues before guessing. With a few clues given, they research various sources to discover the unknown country. Another activity that generates enthusiasm is Jeopardy. Linda uses the subject matter she teaches to formulate the questions for the game. With the challenge of helping their team win, students readily memorize science, social studies, English, or any subject area being covered.

The most exciting learning activity for the veracious fifth graders is “Survivor.” The kids are grouped into tribes, choose their own tribe name, and proceed through the chosen tasks. Throughout the several months of the game, students compete in activities that review skills and concepts for the Pennsylvania state assessments. Tribes win points in each learning activity. No one ever gets “voted off” of a tribe. Instead they choose a checker to determine whether or not they leave the tribe to become the teacher’s assistants for the next activities. “Students get the benefit of learning from each other as they study together and collaborate to figure out answers in various tasks,” Linda explains.

To add even further enrichment, while at the same time serving as a classroom management system, Linda devised a checking account for each student. At the beginning of the year students receive a balance of $100.00 and are awarded subsequent deposits for certain occasions. High test scores and being complimented by other teachers for good behavior results in reward deposits. The children learn how to write checks, keep a balance on their accounts, as well a how to budget and be responsible. In addition, the fifth graders are given a credit card to use. The amounts on the needed goods and services are doubled if they use the credit card. For example, the students pay $5.00 /month for rent on their desks, but if they pay with their credit card, the cost is $10.00. Linda provides various snacks like ice cream bars, chips, and specialty items for the children to purchase at the end of the year. “The children love to purchase these items with their checks,” Linda notes.

The innovative techniques and creative activities Linda uses have not gone unnoticed. Last year the district honored her with the prestigious Teacher of the Year Award for Freeport Area schools. She notes, "It was one of the nicest things that has happened to me educationally in my life. I was very honored. At the banquet there were letters written by my students, and it meant a lot to me - the complimentary things they said."

Linda and her husband live in South Buffalo Township. They have been married for 35 years and have three grown children. "And," adds Linda, "I have one beautiful grandaughter, McKenna. She's the star."

In her spare time Linda enjoys reading and going to Curves. In addition, her hobbies include writing children's books. She has written one and is working on a second one now.

To express what she's most proud of in her school she states, "It's the level of education being taught here, the dedication of the staff, their hours of dedication. You can tell by the quality of the projects on the walls and throughout the school."

Linda feels very fortunate to be working with such a hard–working staff, but the part of teaching she likes most is very clear. She remarks softly with tears in her eyes, "It's working with the children. When you've worked so hard, and they've worked so hard, and finally, finally you see that light go on, and you know that they understand." Congratulations to Freeport's 2004 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Linda Hileman.

Don’t miss the chance to meet Linda personally by watching the video interview at www.allekiskitoday.com/webcasts/1225