Educator Of The Month: Olivia Biber

For Olivia Biber, kindergarten is more than a starting point — it’s a foundation.

Biber, a kindergarten teacher at Folger McKinsey Elementary School, considers it a privilege to be one of their first experiences in her students’ educational journey. Five- and 6-year-olds, she noted, have a deep desire to make sense of the world around them.

“I do not take lightly the opportunity to forever shape how they view school and learning, and for that, I am grateful,” Biber said.

A graduate of Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), Biber attended Crofton Elementary School, Crofton Middle School and Arundel High School. For college, she attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland and received her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2019. She returned to AACPS shortly after graduation and joined Folger McKinsey Elementary for the 2019-2020 school year. This is her seventh year teaching, all of them in kindergarten.

Biber is a third-generation educator and said her own positive experiences in school inspired her career choice.

“I was very fortunate to have exemplary educators surround me throughout my life,” she said. “I knew I wanted to give that same positivity and support to other children someday.”

One of her favorite moments each year is watching students learn to read.

“I find an immense amount of joy in teaching students to ‘unlock the code’ of reading,” Biber said.

To keep students engaged, Biber incorporates gamification and humor into her lessons, creating a classroom environment where learning feels both meaningful and fun.

Relationship-building is central to her teaching philosophy. Biber said she prioritizes getting to know each student and creating a classroom culture rooted in kindness, respect and communication. Students often practice celebrating other people’s wins and having discourse when upset.

“I want my students to leave kindergarten being emotionally aware and effective communicators in the world,” she said.

Biber also embraces Folger McKinsey’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, known as HOOT, which stands for:

Honor
Other People Matter
Own It
Take Action

The program encourages students to model positive behaviors throughout the school day. Each morning, students recite a HOOT chant and set goals tied to one of the four values. Teachers reward positive behavior with “HOOT Bucks,” which students can later exchange for prizes or special experiences.

“My students always look forward to ‘Hoot Buck Day,’” Biber said.

Each classroom has different rewards based on what works best for (their) individual classroom community. Biber said the program provides a structured way to reinforce expectations while also allowing for meaningful conversations with students about their choices and growth.

“I find this an opportune time to confer with students regarding their behavior and make a plan, together, on how we will continue on the same trajectory or make adjustments,” she said.

At the end of the school day, Biber also presents an “Attitude Award” to a student who demonstrated effort or growth, giving the class an opportunity to celebrate progress together.

As one of her students’ first formal teachers, Biber said she understands the lasting impact kindergarten can have on how children view school.

“I hope my students leave kindergarten knowing they have a lifelong supporter, and they are capable of anything they set their mind to,” Biber said.