Provo Way Employee of the Week - Cassidy Baker, Timpview High AP World History Teacher

"Cassidy Baker is Timpview's AP World History teacher, student government advisor, and social media specialist," Timpview Principal Momi Tu'ua starts her Provo Way nomination, "And these may be her job titles, but what she does as a teacher and leader among the entire student body is incredible."
Through monthly Provo Way awards, the Provo City School District and Board of Education aim to highlight and celebrate the positive impact that students, teachers, administrators, parents, and staff have on our community. This month, Timpview Teacher Cassidy Baker received the Provo Way Award through Principal Tu'ua's nomination.
We-and anyone who works with Cassidy-echo Momi's sentiments; she is incredible.
Everyone in education knows that teaching requires your whole heart. The phrase "above and beyond" is often overused in education, yet Cassidy Baker goes above and beyond; she soars, sets high expectations, and lifts others around her. Baker is an ideal, and she does more than you can imagine for Timpview High and our district. And, as only a principal involved with all of the behind-the-scenes inner workings of their school, no one can share Baker's importance like Momi Tu'ua can.
"One of our school improvement goals is 'Belonging - Every Timpview student can identify a person they can contact for help," Continues Tu'ua. "And Cassidy creates the environment for this to happen." In her many years with Timpview, Cassidy has only grown her curriculum, enriching the student experience. Tu'ua attests that "Cassidy's duties in the classroom go beyond the 180 days of instruction-Cassidy takes the time to travel the world over the summer and shares with her students special artifacts and even a richer history of the world with her first-hand experiences."
I imagine most readers can (hopefully) recall a history teacher with travel and experience under their belt-and, as you'd likely agree, it makes a considerable difference. On-the-ground fieldwork, first-hand accounts, and visuals all paint in the corners of the many dates, terms, and events that can make History feel stuffy. Cassidy is an exceptional teacher who utilizes outstanding teaching methods.
And it's paying dividends, as "almost 80% of her sophomore students pass the AP World History exam each year!" For those unfamiliar with AP World History passing rates, that rate soars above the national standard of 64%.
But, as Momi stated, it goes beyond the curriculum; Cassidy extends and enriches every role. To quote:
"Cassidy oversees the Senior Sunrise & Sunset, the early breakfast with seniors on the football field at the beginning and end of their last year of school, Club Week, Homecoming Assembly & Dance, Veterans Assembly - a Provo City tradition that the Freedom Festival Board adopted into their festivities several years ago, all dances, Spirit Assemblies, Shout Outs Every Month, Multicultural Assembly, and the Stars Assembly. With all of these activities, Cassidy also posts these happenings on our school Instagram account - even reminding students which days are A/B days of the week and what colors to wear on game days, and she is conscientiously inclusive of ALL programs in her posts!"
On behalf of the many educators and students who've come to know you, Cassidy, thank you for all you do.