The Claymont Foundation selects Dotts as the Teacher of the Year
The Claymont Foundation has selected Heather Dotts as its 2020 Teacher of the Year.
The Claymont Foundation has selected Heather Dotts as its 2020 Teacher of the Year.
In her 23 years at Claymont High School, Dotts has taught English, speech and communications, theater, and Sigma Tri (a new class that combines students of all abilities to improve communication skills and build relationships).
Dotts served as the thespian advisor from 1998-2004, where she directed the annual fall play and spring musical. She also assisted students with the organization of the high school’s annual Grandparents Day program and recently accepted the role as the high school’s staff facility dog handler/caretaker.
Dotts and her husband, Mike, have four daughters: Gemma, Cora, Aria and Isla. All attend Claymont schools. They live on a small hobby farm in Stone Creek with four horses, dairy goats, laying hens, five dogs including CHS facility dog Audrey and a cat.
Dotts graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kent State University with her Bachelor of Science in education in communications with a concentration in speech, English and journalism education for students grade 7-12. She has her Master of Arts in teaching from Marygrove College and has taken several workshops on teaching gifted students.
Dotts has been recognized by many of her past students as an honored educator.
“I have learned so much from my colleagues and students about how to motivate and inspire others. My most recent lessons have unexpectedly come from a dog who shows me how to help others overcome fear and anxiety with compassion. I credit the opportunity to learn valuable lessons from a dog to my amazing students and supportive district,” Dotts said.
Dotts discussed how the facility dog came about. “In 2015 Ohio made changes to the state standardized tests, increasing the rigor and also transitioning from pencil/paper tests to online testing. These changes caused noticeable stress and worry for both students and staff. My communications class recognized this growing anxiety and made it a class project to research an innovative way to reduce school stress, respond to anxiety and improve overall school climate. One of the options they discovered was the use of a facility dog,” she said.
Dotts described the facility dog. “As a result of this student initiative, today I have a new classroom partner, a 3-year-old Golden Retriever named Audrey who comes to us from Freedom Paws Assistance Dogs in Marysville, Ohio,” she said. “I am honored and grateful for the community’s positive response to our facility dog program. Claymont’s initiative to secure a trained dog to serve the students and staff is just one part of our proactive attempt to address the important social and emotional needs of students and staff.”
Dotts will receive a $500 classroom grant for being named Teacher of the Year. The grant is sponsored by the Scott Luikart Memorial Fund.
The Teacher of the Year has always been regularly recognized at the annual Claymont Foundation Alumni Awards Dinner. Due to the current COVID-19 situation, this year’s Alumni Awards Dinner will not be held.