Iris Bunton serves as counselor at Main Street Intermediate School. This is her eighth year in Taylor ISD, 14th year total.
Bunton wanted to become a teacher since she was a little girl. She remembers watching her grandmother, Mrs. Delores Hennington, in her classroom, and favorite teachers Mrs. Muniz, Mrs. Simcik and Mrs. Rowe.
“The way they acknowledged and saw me was inspirational in itself, so it is my desire to inspire others in the same way,” Bunton said.
Bunton’s advice for a successful career in education is that in addition to building relationships and showing students that you care, it’s worthwhile to put consistent routines in place – for almost everything. Provide students with autonomy. Allow them to receive extrinsic rewards in order to build up their intrinsic motivation, and show genuine empathy for your students. If those things are practiced regularly, Bunton believes you will be off on the right track.
Check out next Sunday’s edition of the Taylor Press for another Teacher of the Year profile.
