Teacher Appreciation Week: Julie Scott at Jackson Heights

Glens Falls City School District recognizes national Teacher Appreciation Week by highlighting committed and enthusiastic teachers from every one of our schools each day of the week! Read on for an inside interview with Julie Scott—one of the most dynamic teachers around our district.

Mrs. Scott is a first grade teacher at Jackson Heights Elementary School. She grew up in the Capital Region, having graduated from Ballston Spa High School before receiving her undergraduate degree in Childhood Education from SUNY Potsdam, and then her Masters in Reading from UAlbany. She’s been teaching at Jackson Heights for 4 years now!

“Julie is the kind of educator who brings both heart and high standards to Jackson Heights,” says Principal Ryan Estey. “In her classroom, she creates an environment where learning is an absolute joy, fueled by her creativity, expertise, and natural flexibility. Even on the most demanding days, Julie’s unwavering positivity shines through, making her a true cornerstone of her professional team. She is a proactive and thoughtful resource for her colleagues, and her exceptional communication keeps parents and staff in sync. GF Nation is incredibly fortunate to have a teacher as dedicated and talented as Mrs. Scott!”

What do you do to engage your students? What makes your teaching and learning style or environment unique? 

I begin by creating a warm, welcoming classroom where every student feels they belong. We call ourselves a classroom family, and that sense of belonging helps students relax, take risks, and focus on learning. I make lessons meaningful by showing students the value behind what we’re learning. My lessons are hands-on and use a variety of approaches to meet different learning styles. I also bring playfulness and humor into the room whenever possible— being a little silly helps me capture students’ attention and keep them engaged. 

Why do you think it's important to teach the way you do?

Building strong relationships with students is central to my teaching. When students feel loved, respected, and cared for — when they feel like part of our classroom family — teaching is more impactful and learning becomes more meaningful. Those trusting relationships make it easier for students to participate, take academic risks, and grow. When students feel valued, heard, seen- I believe they try harder and are most willing to give their best. I believe love, high expectations, routine, structure, sprinkled with a dash of silliness and fun is the recipe for success with any lesson being taught! 

Describe your best lesson ever, or one you and students really enjoy.

There are many lessons throughout the year that we enjoy, but the lessons/ moments that stand out most are the everyday ones: morning high-fives, our morning meeting and classroom affirmation, small-group work, one-on-one conversations, and read-alouds. My students look forward to our read-alouds each day and they are hands down one of my favorite parts of the day. Reading together gives us time to come together as a class, regroup, settle our bodies and minds. We get to interact, relate to the story, share our experiences, and just enjoy the quieter moment of diving into a good book together. Students gain so much knowledge- vocabulary, understanding of the world, social emotional lessons/contexts from this small moment in our day. So much is to be learned and gained from a thoughtful choice of a good book during read aloud time. It’s really the best time of the day! 

What's the best thing about GF Nation?

GF Nation is a welcoming, friendly community that fosters loyalty and support. People truly rally for one another and show up when it matters. I’m grateful to be part of GF Nation — thank you for welcoming me!

Some fun facts about Mrs. Scott:

I met my husband at SUNY Potsdam and we have been married for 18 years. We have a daughter, Lily, 15 years old and a son, Logan, 13 years old. We live in Stillwater and also have a dog named Cody!  A fun fact about me- I ran a NYS licensed daycare from my home for 10 years to be able to be home with my two little ones before going back to the world of teaching. Teaching young learners has always been my passion, and I feel truly blessed to be able to fulfill that passion here at Jackson Heights.