Karen Dellinger WHHS Teacher of the Year 2020-2021 by Karen Dellinger

2020-04-15 16:47:59 UTC

This class with Mrs. Dellinger was my first online class, and I was adjusting terribly to the format. During the first quarter of this semester, I was failing due to this, but Mrs. Dellinger offered me countless opportunities to make up missed work, as well as offering to meet in person during her lunch and emailing me occasionally to check in with me. She has helped me more than any other teacher this year and she certainly deserves recognition for how much she truly cares about her students. In the brief time that I have known her, it has become clear to me that teaching is not only her career, but a passion in which she has fully invested herself for the betterment of her students, and WHHS as a whole.

2020-04-15 17:03:55 UTC

I have known Mrs. Dellinger for two years and I can confidently say that it is difficult to find a teacher who cares for the well-being and education of every single student the way she does. She’s been someone who I know I can always go to anytime of the day and talk to, whether it be about needing help with something school-related or me just needing advice. She’s shown me so many new ways to learn material, whether it be Spanish or even for another class like AP Psych or PreCalc, and I will forever be a better student because of her. There have been days that Mrs. Dellinger’s class has been the only reason I’ve had any motivation to come to school. I could be having the worst possible day, and then walk into room V-12, start talking to Mrs. Dellinger about baseball or something funny that happened that week, and my day is instantly better. Last semester, I was struggling in Spanish 3 with a different teacher, and even though it wasn’t her class, Mrs. Dellinger was willing to set aside time in her day to help me understand what we were learning. With her help, I’ve discovered that I love Spanish and I want to use it in a future career. Although I’ve only known her since the first day of school of my sophomore year, it feels like I’ve known her for a decade, and I consider her to be a friend. I’ve never had a teacher so invested in my learning and so willing to help with anything. Knowing there’s someone at school who always has my back means the world to me. When I walk into her classroom, it feels like home.

So many teachers here, Mrs. Dellinger being one of them, take certain students under their wing and spend extra time with them to keep them safe and give them a fatherly/motherly figure that they might be missing at home. Even now that we are out of school and are working online, West’s teachers have still been checking in daily with students to see how we are doing, and texting or emailing us if they haven’t heard from us all day. I think that’s special and a big factor in why we have so much school spirit and love for teachers here at West. Mrs. Dellinger has always encouraged my love for other cultures and I wouldn’t have wanted to go to Barcelona so much over this past summer if it weren’t for her enthusiasm about experiencing different cultures and going to Spanish-speaking countries. I also probably wouldn’t be so excited about the half hour of presentations and learning that we do in Culture Club every other week if it weren’t for her encouragement of my love for other countries, languages, and cultures.

2020-04-15 17:05:49 UTC

I haven’t known you for very long; the only class I have had with you is online, so I will not have had you in a classroom setting! Because of this, I won’t be able to write about any funny stories and impactful moments I have had in your classroom. However, I am able to write some words about you even though I don’t know you very well because of the initial impressions I got from you. You’ve always been very kind and courteous to me personally, whether that’s addressing where I made mistakes or giving me extra time in assignments when I required it. Certainly not every teacher treats their students this way, and I just wanted you to know that it doesn’t go unnoticed. That being said, I feel like I have been able to watch even greater impacts you have had on other students. I sat in with your Spanish 1 class for a couple of weeks, filled almost entirely with underclassmen. I know that it is no easy task to get students engaged in their work, especially when the work is literally in a foreign language. I’ve seen you do just that, with your creative assignments and fun activities for your students. It is quite remarkable to see that happen. In conclusion, I just want to say thank you. You always have a smile on your face and I can always tell that you care deeply for your students. You are very deserving of this recognition!

2020-04-15 17:24:47 UTC

There has not been a day in class where Mrs. Dellinger has not made me smile. Whether it was just “Buenas Dias!” or an uplifting comment her room was always a positive place where it felt okay to ask questions. Not only was it a kind learning environment it was also very stress relieving and she made sure you were doing okay mentally. I miss that class everyday!

2020-04-15 17:25:53 UTC

So Mrs. Dellinger lol idk where to start, so you are an amazing teacher and you're always there for people that need you and you're very creative when making stations and i love the way you teach even though i know everything you teach cause that class is very easy lol :) also you’ve been so much help on my first year as a freshman and i really enjoy your class a lot and i like jamming to the songs you play in class, you’re class is my favorite class out of all of them. I hope they choose you as the teacher of the year because you really are a very helpful and an amazing person to be around.

2020-04-15 17:26:51 UTC

I think that I have learned more in Mrs. Dellinger's class than any other. She always takes time to explain anything that I don't understand and review words until everyone understands them which has really helped me. I love how positive her classroom is and even on the worst days I can walk into her room and expect my day to get better.

2020-04-15 17:37:01 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is one of the best teachers I have ever had. I was told by people taking Spanish that it's a really difficult class but I have found that to be untrue. She not only makes it easy to learn but also fun. My brother is in Spanish four had he has loved Mrs. Dellinger as well. He told me that I should really hope to get her as my teacher for Spanish and now I can see why. Mrs. Dellinger, you are awesome and thank you for teaching me.

2020-04-15 17:39:58 UTC

I just want to start out by congratulating you for getting the honor of being Teacher of The Year! I feel like it is my duty as a student in your favorite class ever, Spanish 4, to brag about how great of a teacher you are.

Mrs. Dellinger has been my favorite teacher out of my 34 teachers so far, I counted K-12! I went into her Spanish 1 class my Sophomore year expecting it to be really boring and not something I want to pursue later. It was just one of those classes that I had to get through to graduate. The first day, we learned spanish pronouns like she, him, I, and we and I thought it was very hard but Mrs. Dellinger made it very easy and fun. We learned just the basics in Spanish 1 but Mrs. Dellinger made me want to pursue spanish in the future.

After Spanish 1 I took Spanish 2 and 3 back to back. I wanted to learn spanish as quickly as I could. So as soon as I took Spanish 3 I was in Spanish 4 with Mrs. Dellinger. I was so excited to know I was going to be in a class with Mrs. Dellinger with kids that actually want to learn spanish. Spanish 4 has been my favorite class I have ever taken, even though I’m having to do half at home. Every time I walked into spanish my mood would instantly get better. Mrs. Dellinger lets me confide in her like I would talk to a friend. When I was feeling worried about the coronavirus I would talk to Mrs. Dellinger and I would feel better.

In Spanish 4 we do a lot of fun stuff. We started a tv show to immerse us into actually hearing spanish speakers talk. We started this tv show and my whole class fell in love with the show. We would come up with theories and we would root for our favorite couples on the show. We would ‘tweet’ about what we saw on the show in full spanish. We do everything in spanish. I always say I cannot pronounce good because of my country accent but Mrs. Dellinger always assures me and tells me that I do sound good.

My favorite thing about this class though is the friends that I made. Everyone in the class instantly became fast friends due to the happy nature of Mrs. Dellinger and her classroom. We would often read and act out stories and we would always laugh because we put on stupid costumes but we would also learn different words that are used in the story. We would learn but we would have fun while doing it. One day we went to a Venezuelan restaurant and had real latino food. We had so much fun talking, eating, and ordering in spanish.

Learning at home is very difficult for some people. Some girls in our Spanish 4 class have been very overwhelmed with schoolwork on top of jobs during quarantine. She has hours upon hours of AP work then you add honors spanish on top and it ends up taking a toll on your mental health. Mrs. Dellinger knows this so she sympathizes with our struggles and lets us work at our own pace which lifts a big weight off of our shoulders.

At West, Mrs. Dellinger is the main translator for students who cannot speak ENglish and often gets called down to translate for the office. I see a lot of kids who have moved from hispanisc countries coming into Mrs. Dellinger's room to talk to her about anything. Mrs. Dellinger is very deserving of this award and from the whole of West Henderson, but mostly her Spanish 4 kids, hope she gets recognized as the best at the county level!

2020-04-15 17:42:02 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger has been my favorite teacher out of my 34 teachers so far, I counted K-12! I went into her Spanish 1 class my Sophomore year expecting it to be really boring and not something I want to pursue later. It was just one of those classes that I had to get through to graduate. The first day, we learned Spanish pronouns like she, him, I, and we and I thought it was very hard but Mrs. Dellinger made it very easy and fun. We learned just the basics in Spanish 1 but Mrs. Dellinger made me want to pursue Spanish in the future.

After Spanish 1 I took Spanish 2 and 3 back to back. I wanted to learn Spanish as quickly as I could. So as soon as I took Spanish 3 I was in Spanish 4 with Mrs. Dellinger. I was so excited to know I was going to be in a class with Mrs. Dellinger with kids that actually want to learn Spanish. Spanish 4 has been my favorite class I have ever taken, even though I’m having to do half at home. Every time I walked into Spanish my mood would instantly get better. Mrs. Dellinger lets me confide in her like I would talk to a friend. When I was feeling worried about the coronavirus I would talk to Mrs. Dellinger and I would feel better.

In Spanish 4 we do a lot of fun stuff. We started a tv show to immerse us into actually hearing Spanish speakers talk. We started this tv show and my whole class fell in love with the show. We would come up with theories and we would root for our favorite couples on the show. We would ‘tweet’ about what we saw on the show in full Spanish. We do everything in Spanish. I always say I cannot pronounce good because of my country accent but Mrs. Dellinger always assures me and tells me that I do sound good.

My favorite thing about this class though is the friends that I made. Everyone in the class instantly became fast friends due to the happy nature of Mrs. Dellinger and her classroom. We would often read and act out stories and we would always laugh because we put on stupid costumes but we would also learn different words that are used in the story. We would learn but we would have fun while doing it. One day we went to a Venezuelan restaurant and had real Latino food. We had so much fun talking, eating, and ordering in Spanish.

Learning at home is very difficult for some people. Some girls in our Spanish 4 class have been very overwhelmed with schoolwork on top of jobs during quarantine. She has hours upon hours of AP work then you add honors Spanish on top and it ends up taking a toll on your mental health. Mrs. Dellinger knows this so she sympathizes with our struggles and lets us work at our own pace which lifts a big weight off of our shoulders.

At West, Mrs. Dellinger is the main translator for students who cannot speak English and often gets called down to translate for the office. I see a lot of kids who have moved from Hispanic countries coming into Mrs. Dellinger's room to talk to her about anything. Mrs. Dellinger is very deserving of this award and from the whole of West Henderson, but mostly her Spanish 4 kids, hope she gets recognized as the best at the county level!

2020-04-15 17:44:21 UTC

To start, I am so beyond elated that Mrs. Dellinger was chosen for West High’s Teacher of the Year. She is so deserving of this and when she informed our Spanish class about it via Google Classroom, I was already prepared to vouch for her. I want to let you in on just one of the many ways that Mrs. Dellinger has helped me throughout my Senior Year and why I believe she is the best person to have this title. To give you a little bit of background on my story, I have had a very hard lifestyle this past year and into 2020. I have been homeless twice, both of which times still attending school daily. This year when I was out of the home from January until March, I had the support of all my teachers and Mrs. Dellinger especially everyday. Whether I had to be a frequent flyer in the counseling office, run out of the classroom because I was stressed, or even just get some emotional support during my time of need, I knew I always had someone there to understand me and work with me. Mrs. Dellinger said to me on one of my worst days this exactly, “Your worth is not determined by the love of your parents or anyone, you are worth it and don’t need them to tell you you’re loved for you to know you are loved by so many people around you. I love you Rebecca and if I have to tell you this everyday I will.” and trust me, she has stood by those words. Before we were taken out of school because of the virus, Mrs. Dellinger made a note to always do a daily check in with me, give me a hug, and tell me she loved me when I needed it most. I can’t thank her enough for supporting me during this trying time. I can’t leave it there though, even when I moved back into my families home after 2 months of living on my own, Mrs. Dellinger was there for me once again. Below I’ve attached a letter and text message strain between us that solidified the support I already knew I had. Thank you Señora for being here for me and plenty of other students, you inspire us everyday to be better people and we love you for it. I can’t wait to become a teacher and learn some of the most valuable lessons of loving and caring for your students from you to carry into my own classroom everyday. <3

2020-04-15 17:59:04 UTC

I have known Mrs. Dellinger since my sophomore year. She taught me Spanish two then and for my senior year she has been my Spanish four teacher. Before this semester though, I was her student assistant in the first semester of senior year. I was always secretly paying attention to the way she taught her Spanish one kids. She had the most creative and effective ways to reach the students. She did this story time thing where she would read a PowerPoint and repeat sentences over and over. For example, “The bulls run, class do the bulls run or do they walk?” She would say this in Spanish and when you are asked something so simple, so repetitively, and with hand motions it is so easy to remember. It sounds like for elementary school but when you’re learning a language you are basically at an elementary school level, her teaching strategies were almost perfect. She also understands her students and cares at a deep level for them. If a student is struggling she is understanding and maybe provides them with more time to complete an assignment. Also she is encouraging us to watch tv shows in Spanish and I can already say that my Spanish has improved incredibly.

2020-04-15 18:10:04 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is an amazing teacher. She is always very encouraging and positive. She is kind and is always willing to help. I have not known Mrs. Dellinger for very long but I do know that she is a great teacher and makes an impact on many students.

2020-04-15 18:10:46 UTC

I love the energy and positivity you walk into class with everyday. You always seem excited to teach us, talk to us, you always ask how our day is/how we are which makes me want to learn. I also love the ways you teach us and the many options of doing things we have to do. So as a student I am learning my best and feel comfortable.

2020-04-15 18:12:16 UTC

Ms. Dellinger is warm, approachable and emits a kindness that is an example to all of her peers. As a new teacher, she has been so welcoming and such a wonderful representative of the kind of co-worker one would want to have. She frequently offers her time to speak with any Spanish speaking parent of any student, not just her own students, and she does so on her own time. Her students have an affinity towards her and frequently report how kind she is and willing to go the extra mile to help them learn. She seems to be a solutions based teacher and I've never heard her complain about anything. That alone is a treasure these days. Thank you for being a bright spot at WHHS.

2020-04-15 18:12:34 UTC

Karen has always gone above and beyond to help students, even those that are not her own. She has been my go-to for parent communication of ESL students and has always made time to make those phone calls.

2020-04-15 18:12:45 UTC

2020-04-15 18:19:36 UTC

Karen is amazing; she always puts students FIRST. She created a "Most Improved Student" tea recognition. This changed my life...and I really feel like it saved a student! I was teaching a junior who pretty much had given up on everything, yet, with a LOT of love, he responded to me. Karen excitedly told me about her "tea"---so I turned his name in. His parents came and they all cried at the ceremony---and this kid WILL GRADUATE---thanks to people like Karen who make kids just feel AWESOME about themselves! Karen has also helped me with calls to the Hispanic population, anything new online (she's a master), and even recipes since my mom passed away. Karen Dellinger is an amazing colleague, friend, parent--PERSON. She will go to bat for anyone at any time!

2020-04-15 18:20:23 UTC

Senora Dellinger has been a friendly face since I was hired at West. She is kind, compassionate, and looks out for the needs of everyone. This past year, she served on the ACTeam as we transitioned to a year-long ACT prep. Senora Dellinger was helpful throughout the entire process and constantly came up with ideas for ways to better the school. Students and staff love her equally. She is absolutely phenomenal and always willing to help. With the transition to online learning, Senora Dellinger held a training on how to use Google Meets. This was incredibly helpful since our staff did not know that we would be out for so long. She is truly a team player who inspires everyone daily.

2020-04-15 18:20:50 UTC

Karen came to West a few years ago and instantly she started making an impact. One of the greatest things that she did was she began the tradition of the "Most Improved Tea" Party. This celebrates the students that usually do not get recognized for anything and who may fly "under the radar" but they are learning and growing as students and individuals. Karen started this tradition and it has grown each semester. I have heard students come and tell me that they have never been recognized for anything and I have heard stories of teachers and parents crying alike as their student is given a certificate for sometimes the first time ever. It's very heartfelt and Karen puts a lot of work into the tea party. She wants every student to be successful and to feel like they have a place.

2020-04-15 18:21:30 UTC

Karen Dellinger is a treasure of the West Henderson High School community. She is not afraid to try any method to benefit the learners who enter her classroom. Everyone who enters her classroom is treated like a close member of the family. Karen fearlessly increases the visibility of the importance of learning languages and cultures to our community. Her creation of the Most Improved Student Tea showcases students whom might not else be formally recognized in the Falcon community. As a leader in FLANC (our state organization), she represents us foreign language teachers. Her willingness to translate for other staff members helps bridge communication barriers as well.

2020-04-15 18:21:48 UTC

Karen has been a phenomenal co-worker the entire year. But in the days leading up to our switch to Learn From Home model, she outdid herself. In the week of workdays she took the initiative to become an expert on Google Meets. She then created presentations and held learning sessions for large groups to share what she had learned. Her door was always open for teachers to drop in and ask her specific questions about Google Meets. She did all of this while still preparing for her own classes. I firmly believe her work during that week of the transition to this new normal was crucial for many teachers in making this a viable way to deliver instruction and has helped a multitude of students continue their education.

2020-04-15 18:22:06 UTC

This is my first year at West and Karen has been a true example of what every school needs to make first year teachers feel supported and welcomed. She has gone out of her way to help me with questions, regardless of the time of day, has helped the staff with getting the google meet up and running, selflessly sees a need and takes care of it, and is a shining light in the school. I'm not around her much, but just from the sideline, I can tell she loves being a teacher, loves her students and loves West Henderson High School.

2020-04-15 18:22:22 UTC

Karen has been such an asset to West Henderson High School from the first day she joined us. If all teachers had the drive, determination and curiosity that Karen exhibits, we would see a tremendous change in public education and Henderson County Public Schools. Karen has helped launch several new programs at West and is extremely computer savvy. Many of her colleagues turn to her for ideas and guidance on trying out new learning tools in the classroom. Karen is always thinking about ways she can help others. As a theatre teacher I face several opening nights and performance deadlines during the school year. Karen always asks how she can help out and if I need her to cover my classes and duties. How many teacher offer to add more duties to their workload? Karen is kind, compassionate, driven and determined to keep pushes the the envelope on how teachers can make a difference in the lives of our students. Karen truly cares about all around here from staff to student.

2020-04-15 18:22:37 UTC

POSITIVE POSITIVE POSITIVE. This teacher loves students, loves teachers, loves school, and loves teaching. Its infectious!!

2020-04-15 18:22:54 UTC

Always willing to take on any task and help anyone who needs it. Never grumpy or negative. A total rockstar!

2020-04-15 18:23:08 UTC

Karen is a wonderful teacher!!! I work in the office and when I have a person that only speaks and understands Spanish come in, I call her to come down and speak to them. She is always available and never hesitates to come help. She will tell me to let her get someone to cover her class for a few minutes and she comes right down to help. She also helps out with IEP meetings for teachers that have a Spanish speaking parent come in or with a phone call. She always has a positive attitude and a kind word to say to everyone. Karen is truly a team player here at West Henderson. We are so lucky to have such a dedicated teacher like her at our school.

2020-04-15 18:23:38 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is kind, creative, and thoughtful. She constantly provided new ways to learn Spanish to help every kind of learner- from reading, to writing, to acting out skits to singing songs. Mrs. Dellinger was the kind of teacher whose teachings stuck with me, and even to do this day I can say I still have a lot of the knowledge she taught me. She was constantly in a positive mood and pushed her students to affect the world in good ways. Mrs.Dellinger cares deeply about her students’ success, both academically and personally. She deserves every award there is to offer.

2020-04-15 18:27:37 UTC

I had Mrs. Dellinger as my first ever Spanish teacher. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to a foreign language class because let’s be honest, I’m not super great at understanding my native language, much less two languages! But she is to date one of the best teachers I have ever encountered. Her class was never boring nor did it ever leave me feeling like she was just trying to get through the class. She always went above and beyond for her students. I do remember a few occasions when she even bought breakfast for students or their favorite snack as rewards for doing well. This worked too! Especially for the rambunctious teenage boys we had in our class. And in regards to the BIG personalities we had in our class, she never let their outbursts or frustrations cause her to react any other way than calmly. (Much calmer than I would’ve!) I think I can speak for my whole class that semester that she made us all feel valued, appreciated and respected. She understood us on a personal level and many teachers I’ve encountered never even attempted to do so. We were more than just students on her roster and for that I am forever thankful. She deserves this honor!

2020-04-15 18:27:57 UTC

Where do I start? Señora Dellinger really helped me grow not only a student but as an individual. I am Hispanic but I never quite actually learned how to speak my native language. I was a shy student , and especially trying to speak a new language. Señora Dellinger helped me break down those barriers and make me feel to not be ashamed not knowing Spanish but to be determined to keep learning. Thank you!

2020-04-15 18:28:38 UTC

Sra. Dellinger has been the best teacher I have ever had by far. She has only ever been encouraging and helping. The thing about Sra. Dellinger is not that she teaches spanish well, but that she teaches it with a passion and that she not only wants to teach the language, but the culture. She doesn’t teach through a text book and flash cards, she teaches us through immersion and creativity. She shows us through her actions and how she treats others that the best way we can have an impact is by putting others first. Sra. Dellinger is always helping other students. For me, Sra. Dellinger went above and beyond. I wanted to graduate a year early and I chose spanish to be my concentration. The only thing was, going into my final year of high school, I only had completed 1 semester of spanish. Sra. Dellinger was kind enough to spend her first summer with her new baby spending time with me teaching me 2 semesters worth of spanish i’m just 2 months. We spent multiple days and multiple hours together. She could have spent that time with her new son but she spent it helping me achieve my goals. She was up in the middle of the night grading my tests and making sure I had the resources I need to not only pass, but be truly successful in Spanish. Because of Sra. Dellinger I am now pursuing a minor in spanish. Sra. Dellinger understands that every student learns different and has different interests and she wants spanish to be fun so she finds a way to make sure every student gets what they need. For me, my interests weren’t just spanish but exploring my Cuban background. So Sra. Dellinger found a way for me to explore the culture deeper while still fulfilling my requirements. She makes sure that students thrive beyond the classroom. She makes it her job to make sure they are happy and healthy and she does everything in her power to make the students’ lives better everywhere she can. I love Sra. Dellinger because not only does she know and love spanish, but she makes it a point to know and love her students as if they were her own children and she never lets them forget how much she cares. Le amo, Señora Dellinger. Gracias por darme mi amor por Español y gracias por mostrarme a mí y a todos los demás, lo que es la verdadera bondad.

2020-04-15 18:28:56 UTC

Mrs Dellinger where do I even start? She was always willing to help you understand Spanish even if you couldn't pronounce it she made it fun. She always made Spanish fun. If anyone deserves this, it's definitely her! She is one of the most caring, selfless and wonderful teachers I ever had at Pisgah High School! Thank you for making Spanish awesome!

PHS Class Of 2010 ♡

2020-04-15 18:29:19 UTC

I was blessed to have Mrs. Dellinger twice during high school and she instantly became one of my favorite teachers! I decided to take Spanish 4 online as an extra class just so I could be taught by Mrs. Dellinger again even if I couldn’t be there in person. She is one of the most encouraging, supportive, and open teachers there is: she always offered help and helped students work through learning a second language which can be frustrating at times- all with a smile on her face. Learning another language is important, but Mrs. Dellinger connects culture and tradition so it sticks with students. I love listening to Spanish music now- especially Selena!
I miss seeing teachers like Mrs. Dellinger every day and getting to tell her about what was going on because she genuinely wants to know how you’re doing whether you’re in her class or not. Students that have never had her still love her as if they did. I hope to make connections with my future students just as Mrs. Dellinger has in just a few years being at West and come in to work with a smile no matter how hard teaching can be. Sra. Dellinger will be a teacher I will forever remember and I’m so happy she’s being recognized as TOTY!!!

2020-04-15 18:29:36 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger was one of my favorite teachers I had during high school. Her class was so much fun and I looked forward to going every single day. I learned so much and I truly came to love Spanish after having her as a teacher. She makes every student feel welcome and has one of the kindest hearts of anyone I’ve ever met. I love Mrs. Dellinger!

2020-04-15 18:29:53 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She kept her students engaged in the classroom, encouraged us to enroll in Spanish competitions, and encouraged Spanish dance. She was present and willing to help us achieve our goals with Spanish and our goals as people. She is extremely approachable and truly meets students where they are so they can learn. She taught me and then taught my brother two years later. He loved her just as much as I did.

2020-04-15 18:30:06 UTC

I had Mrs Dellinger 2 years in a row, she was the one who really made me love Spanish class! She was the absolute best and I enjoyed going to her class everyday.

2020-04-15 18:30:23 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger, without a doubt is the most caring and friendly teacher I have EVER had. Not only was she [and still is] an amazing teacher but she’s also an amazing friend and colleague.
She’s that teacher who you can tell that genuinely cares about her students learning. She is VERY passionate about her job and her efforts definitely showed in every class. It was a privilege to have had her as my Spanish teacher, and as a fluent Spanish speaker I learned so much more with her.
Thank you Mrs. Dellinger for always being engaged with your students and for being simply amazing!

2020-04-15 18:30:49 UTC

Ms. Dellinger is one of the most engaging teachers I have ever had. Constantly bringing new activities in the classroom, Ms. Dellinger turned an abstract language into something tangible that students could really work with. Her energy and upbeat personality makes students feel excited to learn and makes them feel good about doing good. She cares about each student individually and is willing to go out of her way to help them succeed. Genuinely one of the best teachers I have ever had.

2020-04-15 18:31:17 UTC

Having Mrs. Dellinger is the reason I took 5 semesters of Spanish in High School. I wasn’t the best Spanish student, but she made the class fun and interactive. She’s the reason i felt confident to travel to Honduras, a Spanish speaking country, and be able to talk with them fluently. Mrs. Dellinger was a life changer.

2020-04-15 18:31:40 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger was one of my favorite teachers at Pisgah High school! I was not the best at learning a new language but she was always there to help me anyway she could she was so encouraging and helpful. She always had a smile on her face and a hola to greet you in the hallways. She definitely deserves teacher of the year!

2020-04-15 18:31:54 UTC

Not only does Mrs. Dellinger know how to make learning a new language fun, but she's also an incredibly awesome person to be around. She always lights up the room with her personality and is so inspiring to all of her students!

2020-04-15 18:32:12 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is a great teacher and mentor. After taking Spanish 2 with her, I decided I wanted to continue Spanish in high school and at college. She taught me to love the language which is why I am double majoring in it at NC State! She is also a wonderful person. While I had her for my Spanish 2 class, my father passed away. This was one of the hardest times of my life, however Mrs Dellinger and several of my other teachers where there to help me! She is so great that she even came to his funeral to support me during this hard time.

2020-04-15 18:32:33 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger was one of the best teachers i’ve ever had! She cares about each one of her students on a personal and academic level! She wanted to to succeed in school and in life! If i ever needed anything she was there with advice and kind words! She also knew how to cheer you up in an instant. She is very deserving of this, and i couldn’t of picked a better person ❤️

2020-04-15 18:32:57 UTC

I got blessed with having Mrs. Dellinger for Spanish 1 and Spanish 2! I had both of her classes at the end of the day and her class was always something I looked forward to! Mrs. Dellinger is one of those amazing teachers who no matter what was going on outside of work, it never interfered with how she taught us! She always had a smile on her face and I will always remember her as being one of the loudest and happiest teachers I had! She helped me see that even on bad days, bad weeks, or even bad months that having a positive attitude can not only improve your bad situation or moment(s) but, it also improves others situations as well. I loved Spanish because of her and I looked forward to that class every day. A lot of the time I didn’t want it to end! Mrs. Dellinger is an outstanding teacher and she absolutely deserves the teacher of the year award!

2020-04-15 18:33:19 UTC

You are a great teacher, and I truly enjoyed learning Spanish in your class! Thank you for all you do for our community. You deserve this!

2020-04-15 18:33:39 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is an amazing teacher. After four semesters worth of Spanish in college, I still feel like Mrs. Dellinger taught me the most. She is patient with her students and I will never forget her kindness towards me when I was dealing with hardship. Sometimes the best thing a student needs is compassion from a teacher they look up to.

2020-04-15 18:33:52 UTC

You have taught me how to think outside the box with answering questions with what I know instead of memorizing answers that helped me with all of my classes, not just language classes. Also, you helped me gain confidence by doing fun presentations and skits in a third language.

2020-04-15 18:34:16 UTC

Having Sna. Dellinger as a teacher was one of the largest blessings I could have ever had while having her as my teacher. She is an extremely dedicated and hard-working lady who went out of her way to make sure every one of her students understood the Spanish curriculum. It is not easy to learn another language, and I'm sure it's not any easier to teach it, either. She taught using a wide variety of ways that allowed for each student to thrive and learn such a beautiful language and culture. Muchas gracias, Sna. Dellinger.

2020-04-15 18:34:39 UTC

I don’t even know where to begin. Mrs. Dellinger is one of the best teachers I have ever had. She cares so deeply for her students and I miss being in her Spanish class! She always said hi to me in the halls and that makes a big difference. I will never forget how she always had an ear to listen and she always provides support. She made my high school experience better. She is one of the most deserving of recognition. There aren’t enough words to say how much I love and appreciate her!

2020-04-15 18:34:49 UTC

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to have Mrs. Dellinger as my Spanish teacher several times throughout high school. She always had a variety of activities planned to help us learn Spanish from belting out the lyrics to a Spanish song to writing and acting out our own play about influential Spanish women. Her creativity in the classroom and care for her students really set her apart as a teacher. She truly supports her students and wants to see them succeed in life. Any student would be lucky to have Mrs. Dellinger as their teacher!

2020-04-15 18:35:10 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is someone I truly admire. I was only in her Spanish class for one semester and she quickly became more than an ordinary teacher. Coming into her class each day, I could count on being greeted with a smile and a loud Spanish phrase that eased all tension of trying a new language. She cultivated a classroom that welcomed mistakes and prioritized the dignity and respect of each student. She is an encourager and someone who allowed me to be confident in myself. Mrs. Dellinger is someone who I look up to dearly and who is deserving of all praise and recognition.

2020-04-15 18:35:32 UTC

Karen you have impacted so many students and their parents/guardians by starting The Most Improved Tea at West. Often times we don't think about the students who go unrecognized for some amazing accomplishments in the midst of when so many face challenges outside of school. The award day has boosted the self esteem of many students, allows them to feel appreciated and loved, and encourages them to keep working hard. The parents/guardians of these students also are given a boost of confidence to see that they are impacting their children in positive ways and given the opportunity to be proud of their children for these accomplishments that others in their life notice.

Your smiling face in the hallway and your genuine nature with everyone you meet definitely boosts the morale of our students and our staff. You are so deserving of the HCPS Teacher of the Year!!!

2020-04-17 15:05:44 UTC

You absolutely had everything to do with me becoming a Spanish teacher. If you and Cathy had not pushed me to go to the WCU competition, I don't think I would have chosen this path.

2020-04-21 14:32:45 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger has been patient and enthusiastic since day 1. Even when her students aren’t behaving as well as they should, she has never lost her temper, and still manages to keep things under control. Having the patience and passion to teach high schoolers

2020-04-21 15:15:13 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is an amazing teacher because she is interactive, motivational, educated, and inclusive. These reasons make her not only the best Spanish teacher ever, but also the best teacher I have ever had! She is extremely interactive in her teaching style that allows everyone in the class to stay engaged and excited to learn. We act out stories using our new vocabulary and play quizlet live in class which employs repetitive techniques and makes us really motivated to learn by being competitive with each other. She also keeps us motivated because she uses a very fun rewards system where she gives out metaphorical pesos when we learn something or win a quizlet live game which we can cash in for a small prize such as a soda or candy bar! Mrs. Dellinger is also extremely educated which is very helpful to her students. She really really understands the language which allows her to be very clear when she teaches and also able to answer any of our questions. She is able to explain to us why certain words are certain ways and she is also able to give us very effective ways to remember the words we learn, how to pronounce them, and how to spell them. Lastly, Mrs. Dellinger is the best teacher ever because she is inclusive. She establishes personal connections with every single student. She talks to us about our lives and always smiles at us in the hallway and greets us as we walk into and out of class. She makes sure to include everyone in activities we do such as when we act out a story using our new vocabulary. She also makes sure to find ways to keep everyone interactive. For example, when we were learning occupations she made sure to teach every one of us what our dream occupations were in Spanish so when writing and speaking we could use the job we wanted to do instead of another random or common occupation, making her teaching very inclusive and personal. She is also inclusive by recognizing we all have different learning styles and makes sure that we all have a chance to learn in a way that fits us best. We write and speak and act and listen and play quizlet… all sorts of things that are extremely effective. She also gives us quizzes in all these different ways so that we all have a fair chance to make good grades and make sure that we are well rounded in the language so that we can speak, write, read, and understand Spanish. In conclusion, Mrs. Dellinger is interactive, motivational, educated, and inclusive, and all these reasons and more make her the best teacher I have ever had, and I believe the best teacher ever!

2020-05-06 18:06:00 UTC

Dear Mrs. Dellinger,

I know that you're not currently my teacher, but I still wanted to thank you for all that you have done for me. After I took Spanish 1 I was convinced that I never wanted to take another Spanish class again, but Mrs. Putnam said I had to, so after much dismay I told her to put it on my schedule so that I could just get it over with. I walked into your class the first day not knowing what to expect. I was one of the only sophomores in the class and I didn't really know anyone. I thought I was doomed to another boring class where I would just sit in silence. Boy was I wrong. You inspired me, you gave me a passion for learning Spanish that I had never had before. You made it interesting and fun. Oh so fun! I fell in love with Latin culture and with the language, and I'm even planning on minoring in it in the future. You gave me fun little pointers for remembering words, and beautiful songs to listen to. You gave me my love of Celia Cruz and Selena. Your beautiful spirit is what helped me through that class. I realized that Spanish wasn't just some class I had to take to get into a four year college, but instead a life lesson. It taught me love and caring for others. You have a quote in your room that says "If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart" as I have grown in my Spanish knowledge and become more comfortable speaking it, I realize how accurate that quote is. I want to thank you for inspiring me to be a better person, and a better student. Thank you for letting me sit in the back of your class in Spanish 3 and for letting me vent when things didn't always go my way. Thank you for teaching me how to salsa and bachata, and for exposing me to a beautiful language and culture that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I miss you so very much and I hope that this week you are showered with the love and appreciation you deserve (you should get it all the time if you ask me.) I love you so very much and I'm so thankful that I have such a devoted teacher.

2020-05-06 18:06:41 UTC

I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am to have had you as a teacher! You are such a great teacher and it really shows how much you care about your students!! I LOVED your class and I really miss it. Thank you for being the best teacher ever and meaning so much to me!!

2020-05-16 04:37:51 UTC

Mrs. Dellinger is by far one of my favorite teachers I have had since beginning my academic career. Twelve grades of instructors and she stands out because of her energy and her dedication to her students. I have had the privilege of taking her Spanish courses which are designed to engage students and are uniquely tailored to each individual learning style. Additionally, I was able to sit in on one of her beginning Spanish classes while I took my fourth-year course online (still taught by her). It is amazing to see the little details in the teaching style Mrs. Dellinger utilizes to make Spanish more comprehensible in the classes that follow, even at the beginning level. She never gives up on a student and is constantly looking for ways to engage with and nurture even the most difficult of students. Mrs. Dellinger deserves Teacher of the Year on the highest level available, as she not only shines from West Henderson High School but from the field of teaching in general.