Lisa Barefoot, Honeoye High School

We got two nominations for this News 8 Golden Apple Award winner. One from another teacher, and one from a student. Watch us surprise Science Teacher Lisa Barefoot At Honeoye High School.

Lisa Barefoot teaches Chemistry and Living Environment at Honeoye High School. Boy did we get a surprise on our way to surprise her! Her door was locked! After a sort time Principal Michael Mead found a key that worked.

Lisa was nominated twice. One came from Lead Mentor and Science Department Chair, Nancy Wright and the other from Senior Emily Sauers. Emily says "She was just the sweetest teacher you could ever have. She would work so hard to try to make sure that like if you ever missed a lab class she will give up one of her personal planning periods so that you can make up the lab. She just tries so hard to help all of her students to be able to pass with the grade that they want."

Nancy says Lisa Barefoot is committed to her students. "She cares totally about kids and it helps kids succeed. The kids love her. She had a year book dedicated to her in her first or second year here. So you know that really shows the kids appreciate her."

"I think if you have high expectations for your kids they'll meet it" Lisa says. "And just to let them know they can do anything they want if they put their mind to it and work hard."

Principal Mead says "Lisa's an awesome teacher and you just can't list all the wonderful things she does for our students here. Very caring, very compassionate. She advocates for our students and I think that's one of the things about the students that they get along so well with her and they're willing to work hard for her is because of what she's willing to do and invest in them and shows that you know, maybe they haven't been successful in other areas all the time but she believes in them and they start to believe in themselves."

We asked Lisa how she gets a kid to believe she believe in them? "I think I just try to get to know them on a personal level. And then I mean once you care for a student they can tell that's a genuine thing and then you're like on the same team and you can work together."

Lisa Barefoot is a News 8 Golden Apple Award winner. You can read both letters we received nominating her below.

Dear News 8,

I am the lead mentor and co teach living environment with her. This has given me the opportunity to watch her teach and work closely with her as she plans her lessons.

Lisa's greatest strength as a teacher is her heart. She cares immensely for all her students. Where other teachers become frustrated and give up on students, Lisa never gives up. Recently she had 5 students pass the Living Environment exam that no one thought could ever pass. She set having them pass as her goal at the start of the year. Then, she pestered the administration and guidance to start a new class just for these 5 students so that they could move on to Earth Science and make progress in science.

In addition to setting high standards and goals for students, her room is a refuge for students who need a calm place to go after school and during lunch. She has several students who come to her room to eat lunch or wait for sports practice to start.

Sincerely,

Nancy Wright, Teacher

Dear News 8,

Mrs. Barefoot is the Chemistry teacher at my school and one of the best. She wants all of her students pass and earn the grade they want, and she's willing to go above and beyond to do that. If you miss a lab class she will give up one of her planning periods so that you can make it up. She's always nervous the first day of a new school year because she really wants to make a good impression. Although she doesn't need to worry so much, by the end of the year everyone loves her as a teacher. It would be really great for such a caring teacher to receive this award. I'm really happy she received this award, as she put it good teachers don't get to hear they're doing a good job enough.

Sincerely,

Emily Sauers, Senior