Beechwood Elementary School teacher Angeline DeLancey has been in the education field for 24 years and said she still loves seeing the “light bulb” go off when her students begin to understand a lesson or grasp a concept.

DeLancey is a finalist for the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year award. One elementary and one secondary teacher of the year will be announced at the Chamber Luncheon in February. The winner of each award will receive $1,000 from Ameristar Casino and the runners-up for each award will receive $500 from Mutual Credit Union.  

DeLancey earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Mississippi State University; a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Belhaven University; and her specialist in administration degree from William Carey University.

DeLancey said she uses a variety of classroom strategies to help engage her students.

“A lesson that defines me as a teacher includes engaging activities and scaffolding with I Do, We Do, You Do lessons,” she said. “Students engage through white boards, turn-and-talk, or group roles. Lessons that describe me also involve all students growing and being successful. We celebrate all growth and achievements.”

DeLancey said she works hard in her classroom to provide lessons that help connect students with the world around them.

“Students are exposed to real-life situations, stories, and experiences,” she said. “They have jobs and responsibilities that will help them learn to be productive members of society. They also spend time learning to communicate by speaking and listening.”

DeLancey also said incorporating measures to improve student achievement is a daily task in elementary school.

“Students are given learning targets and goals to help them frame the lesson,” she said. “Decisions about instruction are based on data collected in the classroom through formative, summative, and diagnostic testing. This information is used to scaffold and differentiate instruction. Students are given timely feedback so they can meet their goals (and) targets.”

DeLancey said, even after nearly 25 years on the job, she is still moved when a student has a moment of success.

“There have been many moving experiences over my 25 years in education,” she said. “They are usually (memorable) because students have an ‘ah-ha’ moment. The ‘light bulb’ goes off and they are so proud of ‘getting it.’ These experiences of student pride can be for academics or behavior. They are winning.”

DeLancey said those moments are proof of her belief in her occupation.

“I was called to (teach), and I have faith in that,” she said.