Robert C. Fisler School, Fullerton
Destination Imagination, Speech and Debate, Volleyball Coach, Creative Writing Club, Literacy Coalition, Instructional Rounds, Leadership Team.
These are just some of the many roles English Language Arts middle school teacher Elizabeth Ellison has taken on over her 20 years at Robert C. Fisler School in Fullerton.
“I have always been an involved teacher,” says Ellison. “I think leading different clubs and activities on campus is a great way to support and contribute to the school culture and to build rapport with students and families in ways that I can’t in the classroom setting. I also enjoy being involved in groups and committees with fellow teachers onsite and across the district. It is a great way to grow as an educator, which is critical. I like challenges, and I appreciate the kindness, patience and support of my administrators and colleagues.”
Ellison, who has been named Parenting OC’s 2024 Top Teacher, has a fanbase of students and colleagues who think her nomination is well-deserved.
“Ms. Ellison is not just a teacher, she is a passionate educator,” says Assistant Principal Linda Beecher in her nomination essay. “She is always seeking innovative ways to elevate her teaching practices. Her commitment to her own professional growth mirrors her dedication to the growth of her students. She creates an environment that celebrates creativity and fosters individual expression which instills a lifelong love for writing and learning among her students. She also provides opportunities for students to share their writing with an authentic audience by having them participate in her annual Author’s Tea. Students share their literary piece with their parents and the community and celebrate their accomplishments as writers.”
Eighth-graders Desiree Michel, Eashan Trivedi and Madden Wang really like her teaching style.
“I think that she’s a very good teacher,” Trivedi says. “She has a lot of information with her assignments and we always know exactly what to do when she tells us it, because she gives us so much information that we don’t need to ask her again.”
Michel likes that Ellison allows for plenty of collaboration. She recalled one assignment where students read an excerpt of a story and as a group had to finish writing it.
“I also like working in groups for assignments,” Michel says. “I feel like she gives us a lot of freedom to do that.”
Wang only has good things to say about Ellison’s class.
“I think the class is wonderful,” he says. “Ms. Ellison’s always very creative. Like today, she had like a slide thing we would do together as a class. It was very engaging and it was a lot of fun.”
Beecher continues in her nomination essay that Ellison doesn’t follow a standard routine.
“She comes up with imaginative ways to teach literature, writing and language skills,” she says. “Her excitement and creative teaching style injects vibrancy and excitement into every lesson. Through interactive discussions, creative writing exercises or multimedia presentations, Ms. Ellison ensures that each lesson is a dynamic experience that resonates with the diverse learning styles of all of her students. She fosters a positive atmosphere that encourages students to actively participate and draw connections between classroom content and real-world applications. In essence, she makes the subject matter relevant and engaging by tailoring the learning experience to cater to individual preferences and needs of her students.”
Though Ellison is in her 20th year at Fisler, she’s been teaching for 30. She was part of the staff that opened Fisler and prior to that, she taught fifth grade at Raymond Elementary School in Fullerton for 10 years.
“I can honestly say that I feel like I blinked and 30 years have passed,” she says.
Ellison was inspired to become an educator by her mom, who started teaching when Ellison was in the fifth grade.
“Prior to that she was a stay-at-home mom, but circumstances caused her to have to get a job,” Ellison says. “I watched her work hard to earn her credential and then go on to get her MS in reading. She was such an inspiration to me because she did all of this while raising me and my brother, who was severely disabled, all on her own. I often helped her set up her classroom, and I saw the work that she did each night and on weekends to give her students her very best. She definitely instilled a strong work ethic in me. I am proud of the work it takes to teach. By the time I was 13, I knew that I would pursue a career in education.”
By Jessica Peralta
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