Iber Holmes Gove Middle School Teacher Receives You Make the Difference Award

RAYMOND – Superintendent Tina McCoy is pleased to announce that fifth grade teacher Rebecca Boucher was chosen as the winner of this year’s You Make the Difference Award.

For the last decade, the award has been given to the Raymond School District teacher who has done exceptional work building relationships with their students and community members, supporting the overall success of the district, and demonstrated general excellence and continuous growth in their role.

Boucher was nominated for the award by David Smith, a paraeducator who works with her at the Iber Holmes Gove Middle School.

“She has really shined during these hard times of remote learning,” he wrote in his nomination. “Daily, she sets up individual schedules for each of her students so they know exactly what they need to do for the entire day, so no matter how they learn they are able to understand their schedule and know exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Before the remote learning started I really admired her and thought she was amazing. Now with the amount of work and caring she is putting in, I view her as a real life superhero.”

Boucher was chosen by a small panel of employees representing key stakeholder groups for the district: the Raymond Education Association from Raymond High School, the Raymond Educational Support Staff from Lamprey River Elementary School and administrators from IHGMS and the district.

Boucher has been a fifth grade teacher in the district since 2016. Prior to that, she had worked as a sixth grade teacher since 2015, a long-term substitute during the 2014-15 academic year and a paraeducator from 2012 to 2014. She is also an alumna of the Raymond School District.

Along with her work with her students, Boucher has also helped to create the Rams Rally and Friendship Lunch activities to help foster a sense of community and celebrate school spirit among all the middle school students.

“Becca will put in whatever time is necessary to ensure that she is providing quality instruction and engaging learning activities for her students,” said Assistant Principal Mike Chouinard. “She has also provided exceptional leadership for the fifth grade team. She engages the team in collaborative discussion of important issues without pushing her opinions and preferences to the front. Because of her efforts, the team is high functioning and often the first team to take on new things. She is always willing to take on work to make things easier for her team and many of the rest of us. That is one of the things about her that amazes me the most.”

Boucher was honored during the June 3 virtual Raymond School Board meeting.

“Becca shows a inspiring dedication to Raymond’s students, helping to build their foundation for success throughout their entire academic career,” Superintendent McCoy said. “I’m proud to announce her as the winner of this well-deserved award.”

###