Weber School District proudly announces that this year's Teacher of the Year has been awarded to Nina Doxey, Performing Arts Teacher at Roy High School. The Classified Employee of the Year has been awarded to Justin Mock, Lead Plumber in our Maintenance Department. All district nominees for Teacher of the Year and Classified Employee of the Year were honored at a banquet sponsored by Tony Divino Toyota on April 27, 2016.
A long-time member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Mrs. Nina Doxey is a gifted musician and singer in her own right. But perhaps her most significant contribution to the arts and education community is the time, dedication, and heart that she has devoted to her students at Roy High School for the past 16 years. Gina Butters, Principal at Roy High stated, "The most impactful intangible artful teachers bring to the table, is they elicit an almost sacred level of trust from their students. And, Nina delivers – she gets the most she possibly can out of each and every student as she broadens their minds, develops their skills, and touches their hearts."
Derek Myler, a former student of Mrs. Doxey's, and a recipient of the Dr. Mack Wilberg Scholarship, credits Nina with helping him develop his talents as a singer and composer. He wrote, "I chose my career in Nina's classroom. Without her careful teaching and meticulous coaching, without her care for me as an individual, and without her genuine interest in my future, I would never have taken the path to become a professional musician. She was an invaluable source in helping me to believe in myself enough to overcome the significant obstacles in pursuing such a career."
As for Nina's philosophy in teaching, she stated that she believes in high expectations. "I encourage students to make every effort toward reaching their goals. Each step toward fulfillment can bring feelings of joy and success during their educational experience. Every student has the right to learn and be nurtured through the educational process." Mrs. Doxey will represent the Weber School District for the State of Utah Teacher of the Year award.
On a cold and wet Sunday afternoon in April, Lead Plumber and golf enthusiast Justin Mock expected to find himself at home immersed in the Master's Tournament broadcast. He instead found himself knee deep in muck and water beneath the foundation of Uintah Elementary after he received an emergency call regarding a water pipe that had broken. Dedicated by nature, Justin took the disappointment in stride and was soon leading his crew in the dreary, wet weather to make sure that the issue was resolved and Uintah's students would be able to attend school the following day with running water.
It is this attitude that has gained Justin the respect of those in the Maintenance Department. Brian Smith, Maintenance Supervisor for Weber School District, said that it is not just Justin's attitude that makes him an exceptional employee, he routinely receives complements on Justin's skills as a plumber. Justin takes opportunities each year to attend seminars or receive additional training to improve his knowledge of his job. Brian stated, "I receive so much feedback of what an incredible plumber he is, from administrators and the assigned custodians, for how willing he is to go the extra effort in support of their needs." Brian has grown to depend on Justin to make sure that things are always taken care of. As for Justin himself, he said that he was just honored to even be considered as a Classified Employee of the Year nominee. When asked what rewards he found in his work, Justin stated, "I love being able to create the environment our children learn in and hope others feel the same."
Congratulations to these deserving individuals. We are privileged to count them among our exceptionally talented and dedicated colleagues.
