Komal Panjabi, the 2019-2020 Carroll ISD Elementary Teacher Of The Year, has another recognition in her cap. Region XI Education Service Center recognized the Durham fifth grade math teacher for her essay on mental health awareness in education — the same essay she submitted for her district teacher of the year nomination.
Komal says her children and students inspired the essay, which focuses on relationships.
“Building relationships fosters the trust and accessibility kids need in order to open up and feel vulnerable,” Komal says. “Having that with my students is of utmost importance and, if they have directly shared or indirectly exhibited their struggles, then I am in a position to create support for that child with all the resources we have available to us at Carroll ISD. Teachers who care are some of the most valuable resources a child can have.”
Komal’s classroom is centered on the circle of courage, which embraces generosity, mastery, belonging and independence, giving students clear expectations for what they can expect and what is expected of them. Actions like tutoring fellow classmates, gathering materials for their friends when they aren’t in the classroom and being generous with their time are recognized.
“These are rewards earned as a whole group; we work together as a family,” Komal says.
Komal also makes individual callouts with things like family circle and Panjabi’s Pick, where kids can speak about their lives and listen to others’ experiences. In family circle, kids can be as open with their lives as they choose, talking about everything from their interests to struggles. In Panjabi’s Pick, kids vote on the student of the week based on actions they see in and out of the classroom and get to see positive actions rewarded.
“Every child needs a champion, a win, someone to brighten their day or highlight the positive. We can give them that, and that can make all the difference,” Komal says.
By allowing students to be open and providing a safe space for their thoughts, as well as practicing those actions herself, Komal knows that she is making an impact in her classroom.
“Given I teach math, it is really important for the kids to be able to ask questions and not feel afraid to admit they don’t know something,” Komal says. “I think these aspects make them feel as though they have a safe place to open up and communicate.”
While the 2020-2021 school year is bound to come with challenges, Komal is ready to get to work and start building relationships with her students. She’s continuing practices that have worked like family circle and Panjabi’s Pick while also embracing new digital ways to interact like having students sent in pictures for her classroom’s walls, having a dedicated check-in time for her DVA students and FaceTiming to nurture one-on-one relationships. But she’s excited to work with her fellow teachers and make it a year her students won’t forget.