Charlene Farnworth – Bonneville Elementary School

Charlene Farnworth has always been and will continue to be my favorite teacher. I had Mrs. Farnworth for 2nd grade. My siblings and I were new to Lindon Elementary as that school year and I had yet to make friends in our new neighborhood. I still think it was a blessing that I had Mrs. Farnworth that year. She created a classroom environment that was very conducive, not only to learning, but also to building lifelong friendships between all types of students. I still have friendships that originated during that school year.

I could tell, even as a 2nd grader, that Mrs. Farnworth loved to teach. Her teaching style was extremely interactive. The fact that I had her 15 years ago and can still remember her lesson on the four cardinal directions is proof that Mrs. Farnworth’s teaching methods stay with her students! She knew students individually and tried to help them excel to their full individual potential. Recognizing that a few students in our class were in need of more challenging math, Mrs. Farnworth met with a group of us after school about starting multiplication in preparation for 3rd grade. She gave us study materials and met with us on a regular basis about our progress. Mrs. Farnworth always goes above and beyond what is expected of teachers. She helped give us a head start in our education. The realization that learning could be exciting and that I could have more teachers like Mrs. Farnworth ignited a fire within me to get as much education as I could.

At one point during the school year a few boys in my grade teased me. I went to Mrs. Farnworth crying one day and she took me aside and had a one-on-one talk with me. She explained that being confident in who you are makes all the difference in life. I will always remember this talk. She helped me to have self-confidence and to focus on what is important in life. This lesson gained importance as I made my way through elementary school and through college at the University of Utah.

My love of education has its foundation in Mrs. Farnworth’s 2nd grade class. Because of this love, I am currently finishing my Masters of Accountancy at the University of Utah this month. I am truly grateful for great teachers like Mrs. Farnworth that take the extra time to help students excel. Mrs. Farnworth is now at Bonneville Elementary in Orem, Utah and I am sure she is still touching the lives of her current students.

I respectfully submit Mrs. Farnworth as a candidate for the Teacher Feature award.

-Brigette Hammond