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Academics
2019-20 focused on enhanced instruction and new opportunities to learn
The school year rolled in with a new focus on defining what quality instruction looks like in Lipscomb Academy’s classrooms . Through a partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) and its CEO Dr . Candice McQueen, academy leaders were equipped with a researched observation rubric to identify effective teacher performance in three domains of teachingplanning, instruction and environment .
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NIET continues to work with the academy to provide coaching tools and resources, online observation and scoring administration support, professional learning community (PLC) information and execution, and a mentor-teacher model for teacher growth and retention purposes . The upper school launched a new schedule that includes a Freshmen Seminar course, double class periods for writing and labs, and flex periods for collaborative work . The new schedule closely aligns with Lipscomb University’s class schedule to more easily accommodate students in dual enrollment classes .
The lower school’s gifted program, which challenges students to think deeply and abstractly about reading texts and to enhance their thinking and problem-solving abilities in mathematics, entered its second year in 2019-20 with a boosted enrollment . This program, unique among local peer schools, replaces the regular grade-level curriculum with accelerated and enriched instruction at an appropriately challenged level .
From the time that Patricia Wood turned 11, she always knew she wanted to be a teacher .
When she attended Lipscomb University, she decided that she wanted to be a physical education teacher, and in less than a year after graduation, she obtained that job, setting her on a path to become the National Christian School Association Teacher of the Year 45 years later in 2020 .
Wood has spent 42 of the 45 years in her teaching career at Lipscomb, teaching physical education, Bible, math and pre-algebra . She has served as the middle school math chair and has been the seventh-grade team leader for many years .
After only two years of working in physical education, a peer of Wood’s suggested that she become a sixth-grade math teacher . She took this opportunity and has loved teaching math ever since . Over the years, Wood has opened the eyes of her students to see a world where they belong and where they are loved . She constantly reminds her students to this day that they are the writers of their own stories and that God will use His plan and His timing to implement whatever it is that they choose to do with their lives .
Wood is no stranger to awards as she has won two Teacher of the Year Awards at Lipscomb Academy in 1992 and in 2007 . During her career, she has been chosen to participate in the National Middle School Convention and the Mid-School Math Conference .
When students enter Wood’s classroom, the first thing they notice is her warm energy and encouraging spirit .
“The most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the kids you taught several years ago going out into the world and chasing their dreams,” she said .
