Each year, New Caney ISD selects a Teacher of the Year among all of the elementary teachers in the district. This distinction represents this teacher’s excellence in the profession, as well as their dedication to their students. Congratulations Ms. Nolan on this outstanding achievement!
At Sorters Mill Elementary, Sharon Nolan is known for her positive attitude and her ability to instill a love of learning in her students. Ms. Nolan is described as a learner who is always striving to teach and engage students in new ways, while also using her wealth of knowledge to mentor and encourage her fellow educators.
This school year marks Ms. Nolan’s tenth year in New Caney ISD and at Sorters Mill, where she has served as a third grade teacher, fourth grade teacher, team leader, campus Gifted and Talented (GT) teacher, the NCISD district lead GT teacher, and leader of the SME Reading and Writing Committee. Outside of school, Ms. Nolan also participates in the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented, where she has served on multiple committees and co-authored a peer-reviewed research piece on advocacy for GT students in Texas.
“I’m passionate about GT because of my three kids,” Nolan said. “My two daughters attend Texas A&M University and my son is at New Caney High School. All of them are GT students.”
When asked how she came to be an educator, Ms. Nolan said that she has wanted to be a teacher since first grade. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University, she taught close to her hometown before having her children and moving to Texas. After her move, she taught fifth grade science and social studies in Cleveland ISD before coming to NCISD. She earned her master’s degree at Lamar University in Teacher Leadership with a specialization in Gifted and Talented education.
Currently, Ms. Nolan teaches fourth grade and works as the campus GT Coordinator as well as the lead elementary GT teacher. As the coordinator, Ms. Nolan focuses on teaching students about different career paths and how different careers are interconnected with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. During her time as the GT coordinator, students have had the opportunity to learn about architecture, paleontology, and use their creativity to build board games, arcade games, and even tiny houses.
Ms. Nolan says that her most rewarding experience as a teacher was when she received an anonymous NCISD Shout Out from a student. The shout out explained how she believed in the student and helped them become better.
“It stands out to me because that's the legacy I want to leave with the kids I teach,” Nolan said. “I want them to feel valued and loved, and I want them to have a deep love of reading, and not just for a test. The shout out stands out to me because it was a day I really needed it, and it is moving to know that there is a student out there who feels that way after being in my class.”
According to SME Principal Kindy Tomhave, this is a sentiment shared among all students that know Ms. Nolan.
“Ms. Nolan is a top-notch educator whose impact on students goes above and beyond her time in the classroom with them,” Tomhave said. “Past students seek her out and come back to campus to say hi to her. Students that are still at SME stop by her room in the morning for a hug or word of encouragement before moving on to their homeroom class for the day. Overall, she is a passionate leader who makes a positive difference at SME.”
To Ms. Nolan, being awarded Elementary Teacher of the Year has been a very humbling experience.
“To know that I am valued here on my campus and viewed as a leader among so many great teachers is very moving,” Nolan said. “It's a really cool experience. There are so many great teachers here and to be chosen is mind-blowing and very humbling.”
