- May 1, 2024
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Sandra Bordis decided to become a teacher because she loves working with children.
In a statement to the Observer, Bordis, a pre-K teacher at Ormond Beach Elementary, said that as an early childhood educator, she sets high expectations for her students — because she knows they're capable of learning and because she loves to help them be the best students and people they can be.
"I am very proud to be the patient, nurturing, supportive, and caring person that students need in their education," Bordis said. "I love being a positive role-model for children."
Bordis has been teaching at Volusia County Schools for 13 years. Prior to that, she taught at a private school for six years. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, she also comes from a family of teachers: her grandparents were both educators, as well as her older sister.
"My sister has been my greatest resource, as she helped me in countless ways and helped me to become the teacher I am today," Bordis said.
Being named OBE's Teacher of the Year makes her feel proud and happy, she said, adding that it's an honor to be nominated by her colleagues.
"One thing I am taking away from this experience is how great it has been to have the opportunity to reflect on my teaching practices and successes," Bordis said. "I’ve also gained a little more confidence in myself knowing that my colleagues feel that I am worthy of this amazing title."
When she's not in the classroom, her evenings are often spent doing the bookkeeping for her second job, a landscape materials business she owns with her husband. She loves to cook, going out to eat, traveling, and decorating her house for every holiday. Bordis is also a mom of two young men, and has two cats and one dog.
By nature, she said, she tends to be a pretty happy and positive person. But teaching can be challenging, so it's important to stay motivated to do her best, Bordis said.
"I manage to get through hard times by remembering that each day brings new opportunities for good things to happen," she said. "Also, with each day I try to improve on things that I felt did not go well in the past."
Because she loves her job so much, she said it's hard to pick her favorite thing about being a teacher.
"I like so many things about my profession," Bordis said. "I especially love having the opportunity to help ignite a child’s lifelong love of learning. It is my personal goal to ensure that all of my students enjoy coming to school, knowing it is a place where they feel valued, confident, and loved."
