Auten Road Teacher District, County Teacher of the Year

For 27 years, Karen Hoffman has just been “doing her thing."

This year, that thing—teaching sixth grade—garnered her awards from the district and county as the Auten Road Intermediate School teacher was selected as Teacher of the Year.

“I don’t do what I do for recognition or awards,” Hoffman said. “I do it because I love what I do.”

Flabbergasted and very excited were the only descriptions for her reaction, she added.

“For the ARIS Award, the vice-principals came to my room with flowers and balloons while the principal, Mr. (Chris) Carey, announced it over the PA system,” she said. “For the District Award, I was summoned to the principal’s office after school to discover (School Superintendent) Dr.(Jorden) Schiff with Mr. Carey.  While in the office, I received a phone call from the county offices telling me of the award.  It was announced to the school the next day— and more balloons.

Hoffman’s spent all of her years teaching in Hillsborough, having been drawn to town because of the beautiful area, she said. The draw to teaching came naturally—and is part of a lifelong love of the profession.

“As far back as I can remember, the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do was teach,” she said. “I enjoy working with children and feeling like I can make a difference.”

“I live for the Ah Ha moments – those moments when the students “get it”,” she added.

Her teaching concentrates both on the curriculum and on the lessons students can use later in life.

“I try to incorporate a lot of character building in my lessons because I’m teaching the whole child, not just a portion of him/her,” Hoffman said. “I love when students return and tell me that they are still using strategies and techniques that they learned in sixth grade.”

While teaching in general is what she loves, Hoffman named an outreach activity, the Support Our Soldiers project, as one of her favorite projects.

“We adopt a platoon of soldiers deployed in Afghanistan and support them with cards, letters, and care packages throughout the year,” she said. “We get letters back from the troops and the students just beam with pride that they are making a difference in someone’s life.”