Jane Stewart Award of Excellence: Ally Loewen

When she was a sophomore in high school, Ally Loewen walked onto the Westview campus for the first time. She tagged along with a friend to volunteer for summer camp. "I didn't even know what autism was." said Ally. That summer was the first of three that Ally volunteered at The Westview School, and it was the spark that guided her toward a career in special education. "I have so many essays written from my youth about how my volunteer years at Westview changed everything for me," said Ally.

At Sam Houston University, Ally majored in education with a minor in special education. "They wouldn't let me major in [special education]," laughed Ally, "but I tried really hard." Upon graduation, Ally began her teaching career in public school but quickly moved into a private school setting where she taught at both The Harris School then The Monarch School.

"It's funny to think back that Westview was what originally started me on this trajectory [of special education]," said Ally. "I was always so grateful and appreciative of my early experience with Westview, but it wasn't even on my radar to work here."

A friend recommended that Ally apply for a teacher opening at Westview because she thought Ally would be a perfect fit. And as Ally commences her fifth year as a Prekindergarten teacher at Westview, her coworkers agree with her.

One staff member said, "To watch Ally connect with students can be described as nothing short of magical. She never gives up on a child and only sees the best in each and every one of them. Ally has a unique way of approaching each student and of seeing and bringing out his or her potential."

Another colleague stated, "Ally doesn't shy away from challenging behaviors. Instead, she seeks to learn the cause and figure out how to reach each child. The unique needs of the students always come first, and Ally is always on board to learn and try new things when it comes to our students."

On any given day, you will pop into Ally's prekindergarten classroom, and it looks like kids are just playing.

Ally stands by her pedagogical approach. She knows that young children learn best through first-hand experiences. Play motivates, stimulates, and supports children in their development of language acquisition, communication skills, concept formation, and concentration. Skillful teachers help support this learning by facilitating meaningful play.

Ally has a true passion for her [prekindergarten] age group. "I love PreK because you see so much growth. There are so many small changes that translate to really big deals for our kids."

"Just listening to Ally talk about her kids brings a smile to my face," said another Westview teacher. "You can hear the love she has for her children in the way she talks about them. Ally's passion for working with her students and for what we do at Westview is truly inspiring."

Congratulations to Ally Loewen for being named the 2020-2021 Jane Stewart Award of Excellence, Teacher of the Year.