Tricia Lance, who has been named Stonington’s teacher of the year for 2015-16, has some surprising role models when it comes to determining how she should teach her third-grade students.

They are Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet, all inhabitants of A.A. Milne’s Hundred Acre Wood.

In her nomination essay for the award, the Deans Mill School teacher told the committee, that “everyday in my third grade classroom, I am a little bit of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and of course myself (Miss Lance).”

Like Pooh, she said she take pride in developing strong relationships and Pooh’s motto of “Think, think, think!” is also hers.

“In my classroom, I create learning activities and provide time for my students to self-reflect, have shared decision-making and to think critically,” she wrote.

Next she said “comes the calm and consistent pig named Piglet that models kindness for the other animals.”

“Like Piglet’s famous saying, “I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” My students know that in our classroom learning is exciting and that not a minute should be wasted!!” she wrote.

On some days, she said third graders can be “Eeyores.” Like the friends of the Hundred Acre Wood, I try to get my “Eeyores” to solve their problems and persevere,” she added.

Finally, she said the bouncy and fun Tigger is always playing detective in the Hundred Acre Wood.

“Well, I am a detective for my learners! Like Tigger’s famous saying, “That’s what Tiggers do best!” I feel that what I do best as a teacher is finding ways for all my students to learn,” she wrote.

A native of Stonington, Lance has either attended or taught in all the town’s public schools. As a student she attended West Vine Street School, Mystic and Pawcatuck middle schools, and the high school.

“A lot of teachers I work with now I had as a student,” she said. “It’s been a unique experience.”

Her first teaching assignment was as a long term substitute at West Broad Street School before moving to her current job at Deans Mill. She will enter her 13th year of teaching this fall.

In her essay Lance called herself a life-long learner who wanted to be a teacher since kindergarten.

“Teaching is part of my family history. Not only is teaching in my family, it is part of what makes me tick,” said Lance, whose mother Anna Greene is a retired Stonington teacher.

The award was announced at the Deans Mill School Flag Day ceremony.

Lance who had been nominated for the award seven previous times, said in an interview that the experience was very humbling and she wants to share the award with her fellow teachers at the school.

“It takes a community at Deans Mill to teach. I work with wonderful colleagues,” she said.

Lance said the award was even more meaningful because she was nominated by a current student and a parent.

Lance said she enjoys teaching third grade because it’s the year when students start applying all the skills they’ve learned so far to real world situations and begin to make connections between things.

“Now they are not just reading to learn how to read but they are reading to learn,” she said.

Lance said she organizes activities that not only help students make those connections but are fun. She said she also has very high expectations for her students and they know that.

“I have a variety of learners. But I try to get every student to see they have something to offer the classroom. That’s why I spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year making connections with them so they feel invested in the class,” she said.

Deans Mill Principal Jennifer McCurdy also has taught with Lance at Deans Mill.

“It was definitely a well deserved honor. She is very dedicated and devoted to not just teaching as a profession but to her kids,” she said.

McCurdy said some of Lance’s strengths are her creativity, willingness to think outside the box and finding ways to engage all students.

Lance will now address the combined faculty of all the town’s schools before school begins in August and will enter the state teacher of the year competition.

In the conclusion to her essay, Lance wrote that it is very difficult for her to discuss her teaching.

“The reason for this is teaching is so a part of me that it’s hard to put into words. In my opinion, Piglet and Pooh sum it up better than I can.

Piglet: “How do you spell love?”

Pooh: “You don’t spell it, you feel it!”

j.wojtas@theday.com