Reading Community Schools has nominated RJ Hayes for the Educator of the Year award. Mr. Hayes is an exceptional teacher who has touched the lives of countless students and families in ways that go far beyond the classroom. RJ has been a teacher in the district for 22 years and in addition to outstanding performance in the classroom also serves as the district’s varsity Baseball coach.
Parents of Mr. Hayes' students rave about his ability to connect with and inspire children. One parent shared that their son, who was going through a difficult time at home, found a lifeline in Mr. Hayes. He was more than a teacher to this child - he was his strength, hope, and reason to smile on tough days. Mr. Hayes genuinely cares for his students, and they feel that care in everything he does.
In addition to being a caring and compassionate teacher, Mr. Hayes is also a talented educator who challenges his students to learn in interesting and fun ways. He is known for making Science exciting and engaging, to the point where kids are still talking about his class years later. Parents remark on how they are impressed by his ability to get children excited about learning, even citing evidence of kids who talk about Science experiments they did in his class long after school was out for the summer.
But perhaps the most inspiring thing about Mr. Hayes is the impact he has on his students' lives. One parent shared that their son, who had Mr. Hayes as a teacher in 5th grade, was so inspired by him that he went on to become an inclusive tutor and is currently pursuing a degree in education. Mr. Hayes has been a mentor and an example to this student, and it's clear that his influence will last a lifetime.
RJ Hayes is a true example of what celebrating excellence is all about.