All Smiles At EWMS: Somer Bridges Named A Teacher Of The Year

May 27, 2009

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Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Somer Bridges was all smiles Tuesday as she learned that she had been selected as the Teacher of the Year in a contest sponsored by a local orthodontist.

Brooks Orthodontics, which has locations in Pensacola, Pace and Jay, sponsors a contest in which patients are asked to nominate their favorite teacher for the Teacher of the Year contest. Of the hundreds of entries, Ernest Ward’s Somer Bridges was the only teacher nominated twice.

She was nominated by eighth grade students and classmates, Stephanie Roach and Chad Smith.

“She has always been there for me. She is more than my teacher, she is my friend. When my dad passed away she brought cards from my class and checked on me everyday,” Smith wrote about Bridges.

“She inspires me and all her students to do their best. She treats us as she would her own children. She does whatever she can to help us learn,” Roach wrote in her essay. “She even goes out of her way to talk to us if we need someone to talk to. She listens and talks us through our problem. She is a wonderful person and deserves this after all she’s done for me and my classmates.”

Ernest Ward Principal Nancy Gindl-Perry noted that she was proud of Bridges, having encouraged her when she was in the eleventh grade to become a teacher.

“I taught her in high school,” Perry said. “I told her in her eleventh grade anatomy and physiology class that she would make a good teacher. Then I ended up being the one to hire her.”

Pictured above (L-R): EWMS student Stephanie Roach,  Teacher of the Year Somer Bridges, student Chad Smith and Stacey Peaden from Brooks Orthodontics.  NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

13 Responses to “All Smiles At EWMS: Somer Bridges Named A Teacher Of The Year”

  1. INSTIGATOR on July 25th, 2009 12:57 pm

    congrats my girl go’s to brooks orthodontics and is exited that you got teacher of the year

  2. taiqueisha mitchell on June 6th, 2009 10:36 pm

    CONGRADULATIONS MRS.BRIDGES YOU AARE AN AMAZING PERSON AND I TRULY THINK THAT YOU DESERVED THAT AWARD!
    YOU ARE MY FAVORITE TEACHER AND IM GONNA MISS YOU NEXT YEAR!
    KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!’ AND SORRY IM PUTING THE COMMENT ON LATE! YOUR NUMBER 1!
    ILOVEYOU ALWAYS!
    -TAIQUEISHA MITCHELL

  3. Felicia Amerson on May 30th, 2009 1:33 pm

    Congratulations Somer! Well deserved…

  4. Nick H on May 28th, 2009 5:24 pm

    Congrats Mrs. Bridges!!! Thanks for all u have taught me. Im gonna miss u next year.=p

  5. Angel M. on May 28th, 2009 9:13 am

    Woooo! Go Mrs. Bridges! You are an amazing teacher! I’m gonna miss you sooooo much next year!!!!!

    Love you,

    Angel:)

  6. Clarissa Ross! on May 27th, 2009 7:47 pm

    Mrs.Bridges,
    You have been one of my favorite teachers ever! You have taught me alot and your an amazing teacher! I will miss you so much next year:(

    Love-Clarissa R.

  7. Michelle Cayson on May 27th, 2009 4:11 pm

    Congratulations Ms. Somer and also to EWMS Ms. Perry. What a great job!!
    What a great way to finish off the school year!!

    And also a well done for all the other teachers and staff of every level who make EWMS the best there is !! That includes the lunch ladies and custodial staff as well.

  8. Chad Smith on May 27th, 2009 10:37 am

    Im gonna miss you next year Mrs. Bridges you truely deserved this award. !!

  9. kRistin Guinto on May 27th, 2009 10:35 am

    Mrs Bridges you deserve this you are the coolest teacher ever!!! I will miss you so much next year. Have fun with next years class!!
    Thanks for everything you taught me!!!

    Love you so much
    Kristin Guinto 2008-2009 Languague arts student.

  10. Lee M. on May 27th, 2009 9:00 am

    Congratulations, Somer!
    Lee

  11. mom on May 27th, 2009 8:27 am

    Somer, I’m so proud of you!! I know how much you care about your students! Mom

  12. Ashley Cunningham on May 27th, 2009 7:24 am

    Way to go Mrs. Bridges! You really deserve this! I am going to miss you so much next year!

    Love ya!
    Ashley Cunningham

  13. Gerri on May 27th, 2009 6:18 am

    Congratulations Somer! The honor is well deserved.
    Gerri