There is no doubt in my mind that 8th grade Language Arts teacher Nathaniel Bailey of Slavens K-8 deserves to be Educator of the Year. He is the most dedicated and influential teacher that I have ever met, and I am incredibly fortunate that I get to walk into school every day and be taught by him. I look forward to being in his class because Mr. Bailey has this unmatched ability to draw students in and engage them in the lesson and focus on what he is saying. He teaches about real topics and reflects his empathy upon us, invoking compassion and realization of actual issues around the world. I’ve talked to so many people in our grade, and we can all agree that his community involvement is astounding. He is a vital part of our community at Slavens, taking part in GSA, Creative Writing, and helping the football team make it so far in playoffs as a skilled and dedicated coach. He teaches about real topics and reflects his empathy upon us, invoking compassion and realization of actual issues around the world. In founding and instructing Creative Writing, he has sparked an interest in narratives and poetry among countless people. He has encouraged and supported the work of every single person in his class by verbal praise, advice, and showing his understanding and acceptance of students. He also is constantly showing his commitment by spending snow days, weekends, and vacations reading students’ work. I want him to receive this award, not only as a fantastic teacher but mentor, so he knows his timeless sacrifices don’t go unnoticed.