Abilene’s Rebecca Quick could become America’s Favorite Teacher

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Big Country is filled with excellent teachers who help ensure the safety and education of our children, so it’s no surprise that another teacher from Abilene is also a nominee for America’s Favorite Teacher.

Rebecca Quick is a pre-kindergarten teacher for Wylie Early Childhood West. She is currently in first place for her group for the national honor of the ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’ award. If crowned America’s favorite teacher, Quick would receive $25,000, a trip to Hawaii, and an exceptional school assembly featuring a personal appearance by famed science television host Bill Nye the Science Guy. She reflected on this nomination and how it is helping to reassure herself that she is doing what is best for her students.

“I am a first-year teacher. I was an aide with the district for the last three years, so this is my first official year in my own classroom. It definitely reinforces that I’m doing a good job and makes me feel like I’m on the right track,” said Quick.

Lisa Salmon, the principal of Wylie Early Childhood West, emphasized that Quick frequently tailors her daily wardrobe to align with her students’ lessons. This approach not only enhances her effectiveness in the classroom but also contributes to creating a positive school experience for her students.

“She comes to work every day just to make their day the best she can. Here we are in pre-k. It starts here, and we want our kids to have a positive perspective of school, and hopefully that sets the tone for the future,” Salmon said.

Quick said that shepherding these young minds into the school system is part of her goal of giving her students the same motivation for learning as she has.

“I am passionate about getting kids in love with learning. Pre-K is perfect for me because I know that this is their first time learning. A lot of times, this is their first time being away from their parents and being away from their families. So, I get them really, really excited about learning so that way they can go into kindergarten and first grade and just turn into lifelong learners and be excited about it,” Quick expressed.

While Rebecca Quick competes for the title in her group, Forrest Harmel, a Carpentry and Construction Trades teacher at ATEMS High School, is also vying for the title in a different group. Once this voting phase concludes, the first-place winners from nine groups will compete against each other for the national title.