Dobson named 2024 Teacher of the Year
PARKERSBURG - Whitney Dobson has been named Wood County Schools 2024 Teacher of the Year.
Dobson is a pre-kindergarten teacher at at Blennerhassett Elementary School and has nearly 15 years of teaching experience. Dobson has a bachelors in Child Development and Family Studies/Pre-Kindergarten Education from West Virginia University and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Dobson was among 32 applicants and six finalists considered for Teacher of the Year. Dobson will go on to represent Wood County in the West Virginia Teacher of the Year competition. A committee of educators and committee members conducted interviews of the finalists Monday, April 10, and unanimously selected Dobson.
Dobson said her teaching philosophy embraces play as a form of learning and parental involvement as key to a child’s academic future.
“I think focusing on the total development of the child helps provide opportunities for children to grow and thrive socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually,” she said. “These years are the most critical to mold, shape, and grow. I am setting the stage for children to feel safe, to feel worthy, to feel excited to come to school and to learn things.”
Dobson was nominated by educator and past Wood County Schools Teacher of the Year Lisa Smith.
“Whitney goes above and beyond to meet the needs of her students every day. She treats them with love and kindness,” Smith wrote in the nomination. “You can tell she genuinely cares about every student in her room. She works with families and the community to make sure her students have opportunities to succeed. As a National Board Certified teacher, Whitney collaborates and mentors teachers both at the county and state level.”
The West Virginia Teacher of the Year will be announced in September.