Educator Of The Month: Amanda Hunter, St. John The Evangelist School

Amanda Hunter covers a lot of ground each week teaching technology at St. John the Evangelist School - all 559 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade come through her classroom. In addition, she’s using a new-to-St. John curriculum.

This year, Hunter implemented a new curriculum when she became certified to teach the Project Lead the Way learning model, which has been implemented at area schools including Severna Park and Archbishop Spalding high schools.

“The middle school courses really prepare students for high school and give them a look at many career options in STEM-based fields,” Hunter said of the hands-on program. For elementary students, learning how to use a keyboard is essential as they learn Microsoft applications, and Bee-Bots, or floor robots, introduce students to the basics of coding, directional language, and spatial awareness.

Middle school students are now working in groups to develop a foot prosthesis for a child their age who has cerebral palsy. “I love watching the students open their minds to think through how to solve a problem, realizing that there may be many ways to solve a problem,” Hunter said.

“Mrs. Hunter is an exceptional teacher who is passionate about her teaching, brings joy to the classroom, and loves to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. But her reach and impact do not end there,” said Glenna Blessing, principal of St. John the Evangelist School. “She is a leader in our school building who is always willing to assist, jump in, and lighten the load on projects, volunteers to cover classes (and) additional jobs, and she does so with a genuine sense of positivity and grace.”

Now in her 13th year at St. John the Evangelist School, Hunter joked that her tenure is more like 45 years. “I feel like I’ve been here my entire life!” she said.

She is a lifelong parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church and graduated from the school. Her older children also graduated from St. John the Evangelist School, and her youngest is in seventh grade.

Although some family members are in education, Hunter originally wanted to pursue a career in the medical field or even in marketing. She changed her major to early childhood education while in college after realizing how much she enjoyed working with children while supporting an aftercare program.

“I enjoy every day sharing technology and engineering with the students,” Hunter said. “My colleagues are incredible and I love the faith-based education we provide students. I believe we are setting them up for success in high school, in their careers and in life.”

As for her teaching style, Hunter believes in initial instruction, but after that, she feels her role is to be a guide. “Problem solving is a skill that we all need well beyond the classroom. I love watching the kids brainstorm together and work to find (the) best solutions through open-minded learning. That skill is needed throughout a lifetime.”

Blessing praised Hunter, adding, “She models a love of learning and brings new and innovative teaching practices to the classroom. She truly brings the essence of the St. John Family to life by her compassion for others, commitment to seeing each child enjoy learning, and supporting the initiatives of our school.”