2008 Gifted Teacher and Administrator of the Year Contest...
Meet the Nominees!
Mrs. Zimmerman, Primary Extension Teacher,
Leewood Elementary School
My daughter (grade 5 now) and my son (grade 2) have had Mrs. Zimmerman as
their gifted program teacher. They have had a wonderful educational experience
in her "thinking outside the box" approach to teaching. I particularly enjoy my
son's enthusiasm when he shares, how while learning the money unit he used the
fake money -that he had earned for good behavior and other good work- to buy
stuff from Ms. Z store.
Students have unique but simple incentives for working hard in this class-
like getting to sit in the rocking chair, teachers chair, gold slips for
completed homework etc which they use at the end of the year to get books from
the teacher. Creativity is this teachers' middle name. She uses unusual
ways to educate the child.
Ms. Zimmerman organised and help students perform a play Solution Pollution -
to help them learn about pollution. Students learnt about weather through the
play A to Z weather. The math program that she conducts is very structured. I
like the questions posted in the problem of the day- on the board for the
students answer. It introduces math to the students at a personal level.
Soft spoken, (unusual for a teacher- but manages to maintain discipline in
the class) gentle and caring towards every child, she sets a tall order for
other teachers to follow. -- Anjana Mishra
Billie Edwards, Teacher,
Ronald McNair Middle School
Ms. Edwards truly is a gift to her gifted students. She teaches 6th 7th and
8th grades social studies and language arts. While this is a stretch for most
teachers, she handles it with such enthusiasm. She taught both my 6th and 7th
grade children this year. Both students admired her thirst for knowledge and
loved the classical music that was always being played in her classroom. They
felt that the music really set the tone for higher level thinking.
This year her 7th grade students had a long term project that integrated all
major subject areas. They learned how to make a family budget, write out checks,
keep a check register, make decisions about car and home purchases, interest
rates and grocery shopping. They also had to do detailed investigation into
their chosen careers and what degrees and or training would be necessary after
high school and how much they could expect to earn.
The students had to do a written and oral presentation. While the project was
long and very detailed, my son loved it. He would get up early on Saturday
mornings to work on it. He enjoyed the challenge of using various resources to
find the information he needed.
While she was teaching math, social studies and language arts in one project,
she was also teaching them basic skills that they will use for the rest of their
lives. I enjoyed watching the process unfold. My son never complained
about the length or the difficulty of this project. He really wanted it to be
the best because he believes that Ms. Edwards gives her best each and everyday.
I am nominating Ms. Edwards because my son and daughter have told me on several
occasions how she motivates them to do well because they can see how much
thought and effort she puts into her lesson plans and her respect for them as
gifted students. She was pregnant this year and still gave her best to the
students every day. Ms. Edwards makes huge investments in her students everyday
and I would like nominate her for The Gifted Teacher of the Year Award.
-- Felecia Turner-Martin
Deborah Reynolds, Gifted Resource Teacher,
Larrymore Elementary
Ms. Reynolds is my daughter's Gifted Resource Teacher. She deserves to be
selected as teacher of the year because of her unique style and methods used to
challenge the kids. Once Loren was selected for the program I began contacting
Ms. Reynolds even before school began to inquire. She returned all of my calls
and was very informative and assuring on the benefits of the program. Since
Loren has been meeting with the group each Wednesday I can see how she has
blossomed. I often e-mail Ms. Reynolds to inquire of Loren's progress and she is
always very detailed in her response. She takes the time to give me detailed
examples of some of the assignments Loren is given and the steps she takes
towards resolution. This is very important and useful for any parent when the
teacher's e-mail can seemingly bring you into the classroom with your child. Ms.
Reynold's methods are very challenging yet teach life skills that I know are
assisting in devoting Loren's distinct personality and abilities. From my
experience with her, the genuine love and passion for what she does shines
through and is becoming rare nowadays. -- Lolita Albergottie
Marsha Peters, Gifted Resource Teacher,
Buchanan Elementary School
Marsha Peters started at our school this school year, replacing the retired
gifted teacher. she came from another district were she had taught for a number
of years. The first thing she did was to get to know each child, and parents.
she gave us a questionnaire to complete to tell her what we expected, and would
like or not like. Marsha covers more than just Buchanan Elementary, but has fit
in well, and worked hard to introduce changes quickly but without disruption to
the students or parents. she is willing to spend extra time with the students
when they show an interest, and I had to wait for mine after school as they have
been doing extra 'fun educational' activities. (she checked it was okay for them
to continue with me). she understands each child's differences and needs. My son
has learning problems, such as ADHD as well as being Gifted, and Marsha has been
a true source of support and information. She has gone out of her way to find &
suggest web sites & books to read, and even therapist to take him to. She not
only teaches the students recognized as gifted, but also those capable of doing
advanced Math or English from the 5th grade. She always has new and exciting
things for the students to do, and my two really look forward to the time they
spend with her. She is a God send. -- Catharine Harrison
Jeff Fields, Theater Teacher,
Moon Valley High School
Mr. Fields has helped me become the actress i am today. When i first went
into high school i was a very shy young girl. Being in his theater class helped
me become a very confident and outgoing person. He helped to learn how to relax
in front of big crowds of people. He has also helped me find my way in acting
outside of school, by telling me about auditions in community theater and in
other things. He is truely and great man and a great teacher. He has a special
bond with all his students that i've never seen any other teacher have. --
Summer B.
Katrina Jordan, Gifted Teacher, Winn
Parish School District
Mrs. Katrina Jordan is a very dedicated individual who truly has a heart for
gifted education. She is an itinerant teacher who travels over 450 miles every
month in order to meet the needs of her gifted students. As her coworker for
several special years, I saw first hand how much she loved her students and how
she strove to make learning exciting and new for them year after year. She works
with children from kindergarten age all the way through high school, and she
seamlessly transitions from age group to age group daily. She loves technology
and she uses it daily as a way to differentiate lessons for her students.
Katrina understands that her students are a part of a global community. However,
their experiences in a small, rural parish in Louisiana might not be enough to
help them grow into this role. Therefore, she not only plans lessons to help
them think outside the box but she also plans extensive field trips for her
students every year. As a talented teacher in the same parish with her, I was
able to attend several of these over night trips with her and her students.
Katrina plans each minute of the trips in order to squeeze every possible moment
of learning and fun into them. Katrina Jordan is not only a dedicated teacher,
but she is also a dedicated professional and a life long learner. She has
presented at various state, national, and international conferences in places
such as Savannah, GA, Chicago, IL, and San Antonio, TX. Additionally, her study
of professional learning communities was published in the notable journal Essays
in Education. Mrs. Jordan was named the 2006 LACUE Middle Teacher of the Year
for our region. She is currently ABD (All But Dissertation) in her pursuit of a
doctoral degree from Louisiana Tech University. Her dissertation topic is gifted
underachievement. Along with being a dedicated teacher and learner she is also a
dedicated member of her community. She has been a children’s choir director at
her church for five years, and she is currently the parent group president at
her daughter’s elementary school. Likewise, she has associated herself with many
worthy charities such as Relay for Life and Toys for Tots. Mrs. Jordan has
several yearly community service projects that she does with her students such
as ministering to nursing home residents and working with food banks. In
summary, I would like to nominate Katrina Jordan for the Hoagie’s Teacher of the
Year award because she is a dedicated teacher, learner and member of her
community. -- Taryn Toms
Narinder Kumar batra, Punjabi Lecturer, Patiala
Professional honesty and integrity are inseparable part of the character of
a teacher. And We are proud to own that such a teacher works in Govt. Senior
Secondary School , Shermajra ( Patiala ). He is a living example of dedication
towards teaching profession. His example inspires the students as well as the
teachers. His name is Narinder Kumar batra
We think that the love and respect for our mother tongue is one aspect of
honesty. Narinder Kumar batra did his M.A. in Punjabi in first division and got
his Ph.D. in Punjabi literature from Punjabi University . He is working in a
school which is situated in a village and here he is doing his best to make the
students acquire high excellence in his subject. We think he has been hundred
percent successful in achieving his aim.
Narinder Kumar batra was appointed as Punjabi lecturer on 01-03-1996. He has
been serving in his school since 16-07-1996. His results are hundred percent. He
has a kind heart. The problems of his students are his own problems. They know
that he is a friend in need. They go to him with their problems and he always
has a solution for their problems. Narinder kumar batra did his Ph.D. after
joining the service as a teacher but he did never let his studies interface with
his work as a teacher.
An honest person does not lives an honest life only he fights for the cause
of honesty. A writer’s greatest weapon is his pen. Narinder kumar batra too uses
his pen in the service of humanity. He wants to create awareness in the society
about the corruption and other basic problems that humanity is facing these
days. All these problems are the production of a corrupt industrial society. So
D Narinder Kumar batra writes articles for leading newspapers and magazines. He
writes on topics like Environment pollution, AIDS, Universal Literacy, Punjabi
language, Female Foetus killing etc. In the morning assembly Narinder Kumar
batra delivers shorts lectures on these topics. He drives home his point with
strong arguments and raises the awareness level of his students as well as his
colleagues. He plays an active and leading role in organizing cultural and other
functions in our school. He is an active member of the ECO Club and encourages
students to plant trees. He himself has donated plants to the school and feels
hurt when some tree or plants is damaged even partly.
He feels that it is his duty to cause awareness about AIDS. Many teachers
find it awkward to talk to students on such a sensitive topic. But Narinder
Kumar batra educates students about this menace. He has also attended the
seminar organized by Punjab Stare AIDS Control Society and has also put a box in
school in which students who feel shy can put their written questions . Later on
he answers these questions in the morning assembly in a very wise manner.
Punctuality and Regularity are two characteristics which are must for forging
great personalities. Narinder Kumar batra has both of these. He is never late
for school. He never wastes his student’s time. He works round the clock. He is
so regular that sometimes students complain of his regularity. In his career
they had never idle time during his period. This is honesty to the utmost limit.
He is also dedicated to spreading literacy among the adults. This school
being a cluster-centre for National Literacy Programme. He is constantly in
touch with the volunteers who are doing their best to spread literacy among the
neighbouring villages. He often visits these villages to give guidance to the
volunteers and to encourage the illiterate Villages to join adult teaching
centres. Therefore, he has to do a lot of paper-work in the school, but he never
complains.
Narinder kumar batra has been given the Best Teacher Award three times by
Lions Club Barandari, Manav Kalyan parishad and Patiala social welfare society.
His name has also been recommended for the State Award for the Best Teacher.
He is an asset to the school. We strongly recommend his name for the “ best
teacher award" and wish him a bright and prosperous future. -- Rakesh Kumar
Monica Bowler, Principal,
Friedell Middle School
Monica Bowler is the principal of Friedell Middle School, which hosts a
brand new school within a school for highly gifted students. She has actively
sought to learn about the needs and methods of educating gifted and highly
gifted students. She also led her staff to learn about giftedness. She
encourages them to truly differentiate instruction and assignments for their
students.
When a possible special program for highly gifted middle school students was
discussed, she expressed interest in having it start at Friedell as soon as
possible. She arranged for a professor of gifted education from an area
university to travel to Friedell to offer courses leading to certification in
gifted education. She encouraged all of her staff to enroll, and the vast
majority of them are taking the courses.
All of this study paved the way for the implementation of extended classes for
gifted and high achieving students in 2005. The knowledge and insight the staff
gained also helped them to prepare for the first class of HG students who
started last September. Monica herself has made it possible for students to take
above grade level classes. She has encouraged and supported her teachers to
allow independent study and alternative assignments for students who need them.
She facilitates the grouping of students in classes based on their needs so that
students with similar needs can be instructed together and benefit from regular
contact with their intellectual peers.
Monica continues to listen to input from parents in general and from our
advocacy group in particular. She implements requests and improvements when they
are feasible. For instance, Monica encourages flexible grouping when placing
Friedell students in math classes so that they will be challenged and
stimulated. As a result, about half of the 6th grade math sections offered at
Friedell are above-grade-level classes.
Anyone who knows Monica can attest to her passion and enthusiasm for education,
for her students, and for her staff. She truly cares for and values each
individual student at Friedell and wants them to be happy and enjoy learning.
She has ultivated a collaborative and respectful leadership style. She has been
a courageous leader in gifted education within the Rochester school district.
Her dedication is inspiring.
Monica Bowler has led her staff to implement improvements which have improved
the education of both gifted students and the entire student population at
Friedell Middle School. Monica and her entire staff are to be commended for the
time and effort they have invested in learning about and addressing the needs of
gifted students. Monica continues to advocate for changes to better meet the
needs of gifted students both in the HG program and throughout the school.
Monica truly deserves to be honored for her great work and dedication to gifted
students. -- Margaret Pellegrini
David Poon, Advanced and Gifted Program Teacher,
Dutch Fork Elementary School
My son is a fifth grader in Mr. David Poon's AGP class. Aidan has always
loved school, and is a straight-A student. However, Aidan has never loved going
to school as much as he does now! ALL of Mr. Poon's students love his
class and the way that he teaches. He has so many interesting and inventive ways
to coax his students into serious critical thinking. Every day my son has
stories about the exciting things he did in Mr. Poon's class, and it amazes me
how many different ways he has of presenting information to his students and
getting the super-involved.
I have a master's degree in secondary social studies, so I feel like I really
do know a good teacher when I see one. I believe that Mr. David Poon is the best
thing that ever happened to my son academically - and I know that teachers like
home only come once in a lifetime. Mr. Poon has been teaching AGP and
other gifted students both in Washington and in South Carolina for a very long
time. I can think of no one more deserving to be recognized for all of his hard
work and enthusiasm! -- Jo Anne Crow
updated
October 09, 2008
resource is a book
