Why choose Lisa Redding for a teacher of the year award?

“Lisa is the epitome of what an exceptional teacher is: intelligent, tough, professional, gifted with teaching complex, abstract concepts, understanding, organized, dedicated, encouraging, hardworking, fair, caring, fun, kind, a great communicator and overall an exceptional human being,” said Lakisha Scott, parent of freshman Nick Scott and junior Leon

Scott, in a letter she wrote to the Brookline Educational Foundation (BEF).

Redding won the BEF Ernest Caverly Teacher of the Year Award. This award is given to one elementary and one high school teacher each year.

“I was confused and very emotional,” Redding said. “I believe I was crying. I know I work hard, but recognition is nice. I was shocked. It took a couple of days to sink in.”

According to Redding, the nomination process is extensive, requiring former students and parents to write letters.

Joshua Paris, Curriculum Coordinator of Mathematics, organized the effort to nominate Redding after having worked with her for 15 years; the last 10 years in Brookline.

“I think she is a phenomenal teacher,” Paris said. “She is able to hold students to high expectations while motivating them to meet these expectations.”

Paris solicited other teachers to write blurbs, which he included in his letter of recommendation.  Former student Aaron Greenblatt wrote a letter, as did Scott.

“She really combines a love and for knowledge with a love for students,” said Paris. “It is a very unique and special combination.”

Paris said that one technique came to mind to exemplify Redding’s teaching style.

“As math teachers, we want students to take control,” Paris said. “Even when challenging them, Ms. Redding does it well. She doesn’t give students the answers to homework because she tries to make students work together to figure it out.”

Paris admires Redding’s teaching style.

“If she tells the students to talk about it, they have to defend their work,” Paris said. “If she tells them the answer, it ends their discussion.”

Redding said she wants to make all of her students who hate math love coming to her class. And BHS is a perfect place to achieve this.

“Working at BHS with this faculty made me better all around, especially as an educator, throughout the time I have worked here,” she said.

Max Friedman can be contacted at [email protected]