Langley Elementary's Baxter O'Brien was honored with the Rubenstein Award for Excellence in Teaching. Pictured above are Baxter O'Brien, from left, pre-K 4 teacher Anna Zinkgraf, Principal Vanessa Drumm and reading interventionist Christina Saavedra as they attend the Standing Ovation award ceremony.
This week, the whole Langley family was bursting with pride and excitement as our own Baxter O’Brien was recognized with one of DCPS’ highest honors! The Rubenstein Awards for Excellence in Teaching are presented to just a handful of teachers each year, at a ceremony for DCPS’ finest teachers, leaders, and school staff.
Mr. O’Brien teaches grades 3-5 Communication and Education Support, leading a classroom for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Langley family knows Mr. O’Brien by his dedicated attention to his students, his enthusiasm for family engagement, and by his leadership in implementing socio-emotional learning through Conscious Discipline. Check out his Instagram, or catch a glimpse of him teaching in this WJLA feature!
As Mr. O’Brien explains: “Socio-emotional learning is woven throughout the school day. It is a transition in the way we think about teaching and utilizing moments throughout the day as teachable moments. We teach our students how they can independently work through conflict, both internally and externally whenever it arises. This can be seen proactively through targeted instruction of skills for conflict resolution, breathing techniques, strategies to utilize when overwhelmed, as well as in the moment, providing students with the language to effectively work through daily challenges and hardships.”
Mr. O’Brien says “What I love best about my job is being able to work with students day-to-day - the ups and downs, the daily challenges and successes. Every day is a new day with different challenges that come with it. There is never a dull moment.”
We could not be more proud of Mr. O’Brien, his students, and all of our students, teachers and staff in Langley’s six self-contained program classrooms. We’re so lucky to have you!
Mr. O’Brien teaches grades 3-5 Communication and Education Support, leading a classroom for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Langley family knows Mr. O’Brien by his dedicated attention to his students, his enthusiasm for family engagement, and by his leadership in implementing socio-emotional learning through Conscious Discipline. Check out his Instagram, or catch a glimpse of him teaching in this WJLA feature!
As Mr. O’Brien explains: “Socio-emotional learning is woven throughout the school day. It is a transition in the way we think about teaching and utilizing moments throughout the day as teachable moments. We teach our students how they can independently work through conflict, both internally and externally whenever it arises. This can be seen proactively through targeted instruction of skills for conflict resolution, breathing techniques, strategies to utilize when overwhelmed, as well as in the moment, providing students with the language to effectively work through daily challenges and hardships.”
Mr. O’Brien says “What I love best about my job is being able to work with students day-to-day - the ups and downs, the daily challenges and successes. Every day is a new day with different challenges that come with it. There is never a dull moment.”
We could not be more proud of Mr. O’Brien, his students, and all of our students, teachers and staff in Langley’s six self-contained program classrooms. We’re so lucky to have you!
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