2001 Virginia Teacher of the Year
Ms. Vickey is a third grade teacher at Winding Creek Elementary in Stafford, Virginia. She has been teaching for eight years and teaches all subjects.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"I believe all children learn. I believe children construct knowledge, and as a teacher, I must teach them to have life-long learning as a goal."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I start by creating a safe environment for children. I motivate children by relating new learning to what they already know. I also set high expectations."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"My greatest accomplishment is making a difference in children's lives. For example, a year after I taught him, one of my struggling readers returned to tell me that he had been inducted into the school's Reading Hall of Fame."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"Teacher quality is of critical importance. Teachers need to be empowered to share their professional expertise with other teachers and the public so that every child has a high quality teacher in his or her classroom."

Inspirational thought:
"The one thought that keeps echoing in my head is a quote I heard repeatedly at the National Teachers' Forum: 'If not you, who? If not now, when?' (Terry Dozier)"