Educator Spotlight: Mandi Varga

MANDI VARGA

Middle school teacher Mandi Varga, who splits time between Harding and Franklin School of Opportunity (FSO), had no choice but to lean on our Vision of a Lakewood Educator competency of growth mindset this year. Starting with the second quarter, Mandi was asked to switch from teaching seventh grade science to eighth grade science. Although she had taught the grade before, a new curriculum had been introduced since that time. Her successful transition is part of why FSO teacher Lucas Yousko nominated Mandi for this honor.

Lucas also noted how Mandi took the initiative at the beginning of the school year to organize the reading intervention curriculum for both Harding and FSO’s Reading Intervention/Enrichment periods. 

Collaboration is also a key Vision component that Mandi often relies on, whether it's gathering input from her students on project topics or working with her Lakewood Teachers Association colleagues as the middle school chairperson for the association.

As a science teacher, Mandi, who joined the District in 2012, strives to connect her lessons to what’s happening in the world around them to expand their global awareness. For example, when teaching about the water cycle, she may tie in current events such as lack of water supply in areas of the country or world and how that affects the health of our planet.

Says Lucas:  “Mandi is a great teacher and kids in her classes … are super engaged.  Her 21st century, real-life, problem-solving projects for science classes hit home hard and help students learn.”