Olivia O’Mara
Deerfield Community School

Nomination by Paul Yergeau

Olivia is one of the most calm and kind-hearted teachers I have met in my long tenure in education. I have witnessed her deal with some of the most challenging children with grace and patience while always preserving each child’s dignity. Every day is a fresh beginning. Rigor and individual attention are the norms in her room. As a result, her students (and parents) love her and thrive in her classroom! She is a great colleague, as well as a superior cooperating teacher to full year interns from UNH. She models by example and is never afraid to say she doesn’t know something, but she will always look for solutions that are in students’ best interests. I wish every child had the opportunity to be in Olivia’s classroom!