Education is in her blood

Witter Elementary teacher Japera Helene Hodges credits her family with her love of education and writing.

Both of Hodges' parents are educators. She is trying to instill that love in the children of the North Tampa school, where she is the school's nominee for the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator Award.

Last week, Hodges, who also facilitates staff trainings, was surprised to learn she is one Hillsborough County's five finalists out of 228 nominees. The Surprise Patrol from the Hillsborough Education Foundation arrived at school with the news and flowers.

"You were selected, in part, because you help your other teachers communicate better with their students," Melody Mars of the foundation told her.

Hodges, 31, is from Gainesville and received her undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and master's from the University of South Florida.

She is in her second year as Witter's writing resource teacher, having previously taught fourth grade at the school and Oak Grove. Last year, she was the school's Teacher of the Year nominee.

As a fourth-grade teacher, with support from parents and colleagues, 100 percent of her students passed the FCAT Writing Test with a score of 4 or better. She also led a team of students in the district's Battle of the Books competition, where the group won first place in round one. This was the first class in the school's history to make it to the second round.

"I have a passionate desire to be a motivator and a role model," said Hodges, whose long-term goal is to go into school administration. "But right now I love being in the classroom and with the students."

Tyshanae Ward, 10, a fourth-grader, was receiving help from Hodges when the Surprise Patrol arrived.

"She's a good writer and she helps a lot of kids," Tyshanae said.

Principal Holly Saia praised Hodges for her willing spirit.

"What's great about her is her ability to make an individual relationship with each student," Saia said. "Then she tailors an individual instructional program to meet their needs."

Fourth-grade language arts teacher Marlene Givens said Hodges also helps the teachers through training sessions. "She actually did my training for writing; she a phenomenal instructor," she said.

Hodges, who is single, likes spending time with her parents, brother, sister and their spouses.

"Family is the most important thing to me," she said.

She also loves music and plays four instruments - the piccolo, flute, clarinet and saxophone.

Other finalists for the award, which is named for the first black appointed as deputy superintendent by the Florida Department of Education, are Jene D. Bell of Chamberlain High; Kimberly A. Duran, Foster Elementary; Michael L. Oliver, Youth Services; and Karen Willis-Barrett, Greco Middle.

Hillsborough County's winner for the Ida S. Baker award will be announced Jan. 28 at the Excellence in Education awards. District winners of Teacher of the Year and Instructional Support Personnel of the Year also will be announced.