Educator Spotlight: Banak, Cramer & Harkness

MARIE BANAK

Paraprofessional Marie Banak has been a steady source of support for Horace Mann Elementary teachers and students for the past 15 years. She started working at the school when her daughter was a Horace Mann student and has been a kind, helpful presence ever since.

Says Horace Mann Principal Sanya Henley: “Marie works exceptionally well with both students and staff, building positive relationships while holding students to high expectations and always being willing to go the extra mile to support her colleagues.”

Marie relies heavily on her Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency of collaboration as she proceeds through her day. In her role, Marie moves to a new classroom every 30 minutes, which requires her to closely collaborate with each of the class teachers to get quickly up to speed on the lesson and where her help is needed.

Marie knows she must be empathetic in her interactions with students in order to help them achieve. “I need to understand where they are coming from and then I can help build their confidence and be a better learner so they can achieve.”

Marie also works to build students’ confidence through her help as a coach for the school’s Girls on the Run program, of which she is proud to be a part of its mission of empowering girls. She often goes above and beyond her responsibilities in helping her school community and staff members, whom Marie views as a second family. Principal Henley is grateful for Marie’s contributions and says her “enthusiasm and dependability make her an indispensable member of the Horace Mann team.

PATTI CRAMER AND JULIE HARKNESS

Horace Mann Elementary first grade teachers Patti Cramer (pictured on right) and Julie Harkness are truly the dynamic duo and the embodiment of our Vision of a Lakewood Ranger competency of collaboration competency. The two have been working team teaching since 2013. They seamlessly complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses leading to a richer experience for their students.

The two educators often combine classes, allowing one to lead instruction while the other may be working with a student or small group that needs some extra help. They meet daily in their planning periods where they feed off each other’s outstanding creative and critical thinking skills to develop fun, engaging lessons and experiences for their students, such as transforming a nearby closet into a planetarium for read alouds and lessons during their astronomy unit and outfitting their students with lab coats and stethoscopes for the human body unit.

Patti and Julie’s team teaching approach also allows for greater empathy in meeting students’ needs. With two teachers working together, they can provide more individualized attention, respond thoughtfully to students’ social and emotional needs, and ensure every child feels supported and valued. This shared responsibility creates a nurturing learning environment where students feel comfortable taking risks and building confidence.

Patti and Julie also benefit professionally from their partnership. They rely on one another for feedback, problem-solving, and inspiration, strengthening both their instruction and their connection as colleagues.

Horace Mann Principal Sanya Henley sums up Patti’s and Julie’s impact on the school and their students: “Their work exemplifies the highest standards of teamwork, instructional excellence, and dedication to nurturing lifelong learners.