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2008 Gifted Teacher and Administrator of the Year Contest...
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Each teacher and administrator nominated also received a "Recognition of Outstanding Service" certificate, thanking them for their contribution to gifted education.
If your organization would like to sponsor our next Gifted Teacher and Administrator of the Year Contest, by supplying books or products for the winning teacher and administrator, please contact Carolyn K. or use the Feedback Form. Thank you.
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
Lois Davis,
3rd Grade Teacher, Liberty School
As all parents of gifted children know, raising these children requires an
enormous commitment and amount of energy to insure that they receive an
appropriate education. I have been fortunate to have my children attend a great
school filled with teachers who are more than willing to make accommodations and
differentiate the curriculum to accommodate my daughter.
The reason I am nominating Mrs. Lois Davis is that for the first time in my
daughter's years attending school I didn't have to say or do or ask for
anything. Mrs. Davis went above and beyond to meet everyone's educational needs
and my daughter thrived. From oral book talks that allowed them to choose their
own book, to a math enrichment group to challenging writing assignments there
was no area where my daughter felt unchallenged.
The biggest thing for me though was that Mrs. Davis recognized my daughter's
gift in math. In the past, it has been difficult to explain that she is great at
math but not at fact recall. She's one of the last to pass her addition /
multiplication fact timed tests and yet she can do higher level math with ease.
In third grade I went to the 1st parent conference expecting to have to try to
explain this and was stunned to hear that Alyssa was already in the math
enrichment group. After years of hearing that she hates math, my daughter loves
it and I attribute this and her advanced proficient scores in math to having a
fantastic teacher who saw the potential in her.
This has gotten long, so I'll wrap up by saying that I believe Lois Davis
deserves to be the 2008 Gifted Teacher of the Year. Not just for being one of
those precious teachers who nurtures children's love of learning and shares
herself and her own passions with them everyday but for going above and beyond
everyday to challenge gifted children without even thinking about it. I get the
feeling that she isn't so much differentiating because she feels she "has to"
but simply because she cherishes children and understands that a one size fits
all approach to education doesn't work for anyone. If every teacher and every
school took this approach to education the challenge of gifted education would
disappear. -- Jennifer Cassini
Keith Westman,
Principal, Golf Middle School
We would like to nominate Mr. Keith Westman for the award of Administrator
of the Year. His work has led to a remarkable difference in the education of
gifted children during his tenure at Golf Middle School. The community of
disabled children is served in our schools as a matter of course. Mr. Westman
has focused on the plight of gifted students. The key problem for the gifted is
that challenges are not typically available to help refine their already
superior reasoning skills. Setting up programs requires the use of already
stretched resources. Teacher time and efforts are clearly at a premium. Mr.
Westman has built an exceptional team of educators who work together to nurture
each child’s unique potential. The curriculum has been planned thoughtfully to
both challenge and inspire. He personally oversees the individualization of
programs for children as required, with options including grade advancement,
subject acceleration, and subject skipping. To accommodate the higher level, Mr.
Westmen devised the idea of a virtual high school and a math enrichment program,
which incorporates advanced high school and college level coursework – all in
accelerated timeframes. During his five year tenure at Golf Middle School, Mr.
Westman has directed and supervised incorporation of methods to identify the
gifted and provide for their education, in sync with their talents. Their work
is at a sufficiently high level, and the work proceeds at a rate with exercises
and lessons commensurate with their abilities.
Mr. Westman has spent countless hours learning about existing methods online, in
phone conversations and interacting with his superbly capable staff. He has
applied what he’s learned to build the program. The affected children have
benefited tremendously from their work. Mr. Westman’s love of learning and
tremendous knowledge are clear in each interaction we’ve had as he’s included us
in the processes our own son has been worked through during the last three
years. Mr. Westman continually searches for strategies and answers to best
address the individual talents and challenges he so well recognizes in his
students. He’s supervised many ‘tweaks’ in existing curricula to create new
lessons that address different learning styles and content goals. He is very
success oriented – and the example he provides in the way he conducts his own
life is very inspirational to the students.
Thanks to Mr. Westman’s leadership, Golf Middle School is on track to serve a
sometimes overlooked student population. His team has developed ways to
incorporate research projects, the study of sophisticated technology, hands-on
experimentation, instruction in speaking skills and personal deportment, and
even an opportunity to make a full-fledged multi-month project and wrap-up
presentation – to a college-level ‘committee.’ This is remarkable! Mr. Westman
is always open to learning new ways to make the experience of the student more
rich and appropriate. His knowledge and passion for this work has made him a
strong advocate and skilled engineer. He had no experience when he began his
post five years ago. His willingness to learn and serious dedication to meet the
needs of individual children have made a huge difference in the quality of
education at Golf Middle School. Many gifted students have been expertly served.
In recognition of his vision, service and energetic enthusiasm we nominate Mr.
Keith Westman for the Administrator of the Year award. Thank you for your
consideration. -- Hong Li and Charles C. Hardin
These are the great teachers and administrators that are nominated for the Hoagies' Gifted Education Page 2008 Gifted Teacher and Administrator of the Year Contest. Learn what they've done for their students, classes, schools and districts! And be sure to Meet the 2007 Winners and 2006 Winners!
Susan Walker, Teacher of the Gifted,
Driftwood Elementary
Ms. Walker provides an enriching environment in which her gifted and
talented students are able flourish in all educational areas. She has a flexible
program designed for use with third grade students who are advanced and at
various levels in all academic subjects. She introduces her materials in such a
motivational manner that the students are always involved and on task. The scope
and sequence of her class lessons lead to the continual upward progress of the
children's academic, emotional, and behavioral levels. Ms. Walker's demeanor is
soft, and lends itself to the children respecting each other in a like manner.
I have personally viewed, on many occasions, the classroom economy system that
she employs with her students. It allows the children to think, make appropriate
choices, and accept responsibility for themselves and their classmates.
This school and all of the students that have/had Ms. Walker are very fortunate
to be with her. Ms. Walker is an asset to our school and our profession. --
Sheri Levine
Cindy Brodie,
Explorers Teacher, Marshall
Elementary
The first teacher that comes to mind would be my Explorers (grade 3rd-4th)
gifted teacher Mrs. Cindy Brodie. She is the kindest individual I have
ever encountered in my life, and was always patient with every student. She
treats her students as equals, and never fails to be understanding and sensitive
to the feelings of those around her. She is always fair, but is very
approachable, so every student is able to reach out for help if they wanted to.
She also happened to be the first teacher who encouraged and supported when I
became the gifted coordinator. She has a HUGE impact on students, and to
this day I thank her for all that she is does. -- Tina Hemby
Susan Walker, Teacher of the Gifted,
Driftwood Elementary
Mrs. Walker challenges her gifted and talented students in a way that
fosters respect and responsibility. Her students participate in a classroom
economy that allows them to earn an income, pay monthly bills, and learn how to
budget their money for purchases in the class store. The student "income" is
tied directly to their behavior and responsibilities as a student. Students are
eager to participate and parents have indicated that they transfer these skills
and apply them at home with their own money. -- Ana Alonso
Betsy Brown,
Intermediate Gifted Teacher,
Carbondale Elementary School
I would like to recommend Betsy Brown, a fellow academic talent teacher, for
teacher of the year. Mrs. Brown is a truly special teacher who excites and
challenges her students with innovative and authentic learning activities. In
her Civil War unit her students research, write, and produce vignettes, put on a
Civil War ball in period costume, and go on an overnight encampment. During the
encampment they sleep in the same conditions as the soldiers did, and cook and
eat Civil war era vegetables that they have raised. Mrs. Brown utilizes the
resources that are locally available. In her medical unit her students visit our
problem-based learning medical school. The students work up a case with a
patient (actor) just as the medical students do. The students create and produce
a product to sell at our local Farmer’s Market in her business innovations unit.
Mrs. Brown is a dedicated teacher who invests much of herself to insure that her
students maximize and achieve their potential. -- Mary Alice Kimmel, Primary
Gifted Teacher
Kelly Bozzomo,
Gifted Support Teacher, Simmons
Elementary School
Mrs. Bozzomo is supportive and responsive to the needs of the gifted
children in our school. She heads a weekly enrichment class that brings out the
children's creavtive ideas in a warm and encouraging environment. As an advocate
for the gifted math students, she worked with the administration to start a math
club specifically designed for them. She is always accessible to meet with
teachers and parents to ensure an ongoing motivating environment. -- Beth Sukert
Phillip Young,
Gifted Social Studies Teacher, Haralson
County Middle School
Mr. Young started teaching gifted Social Studies at our school last year (he
was previously employed in Douglas Co). Over the past school year and into this
school year he has been a huge inspiration for my son. My son comes home every
day talking about different things that he is learning in this class. He has
never been so excited about any of his classes and is usually bored with them.
He has learned a wide variety of topics, from politics to global situations. Mr.
Young allows the student's to have debates over the material they are covering
as well as internet research. He tries different ideas to work with these
students, realizing that all students learn in different ways and need different
teaching methods to keep them motivated. This year he is trying a new concept
where each individual student "teaches" his/her peers the subject. This allows
not only the student teaching the subject to do more in-depth study, but it also
drives the other students to know more than the one "teaching" the subject. At
these students level of achievement, they are motivated enough to try to compete
with each other to see who can know more than the other. My son is constantly
researching things on the internet when he gets home in the evening to learn
more about the subjects they are working on in this class. I wish he was as
excited in all of his classes as he is in this one. As I mentioned earlier, Mr.
Young is an inspiration to his students to achieve higher goals. He pushes them
to learn all that they can while also looking for new ways to teach these high
achieving students as well as finding ways to keep them interested in the
topics. I do not hear the infamous, "I'm bored" when my son refers to his Social
Studies class. -- Karen Buchanan
Sharon Muench,
Curriculum Coordinator, Mackintosh Academy
Sharon is always on the lookout for the best practices for the entire
school, whether it is a transdisciplinary view of water as a resource for 5th
graders or animals in folk tales across the world for early childhood, or
personal connections to the identity issues found in Huckleberry Finn for 7th
graders. She knows every student on campus, and learns about their strengths and
concerns, and works to support each one individually, through personal
attention, through extracurricular opportunities to enrich their passions, and
through curriculum that crosses domains and connects the students with the world
and with their own wonderful selves. She is an unsung hero in the school, the
driver of all cognitive and affective support. -- Tari St.Marie
Cara Martin, Primary Extension Teacher,
All 5 Darien Elementary schools, but we
are at Holmes School
Cara Martin has taught my two older girls - my older daughter for 2 years,
and now my 3rd grader this year in the Darien school system's gifted program,
and she is just great!!! She is constantly coming up with new ways to motivate
the children, and always is fun and they love her. She is very inspirational and
dedicated.
She is always learning new things about the gifted and up on new studies and new
methods of identifying and working with gifted children. She is fun and the kids
love her. My third grader looks forward to Mondays - ONLY because she has 'IDEA'
- Darien's gifted class with Cara Martin. If it were not for Cara, and the
gifted program, I think I would have to think seriously about putting my kids in
private school - even though Darien is lucky to have a great school system. What
she does in 1 1/2 hours a week make a huge difference in my daughters life (and
did for 2 years of my older daughter's life as well). She challenges them,
nurtures them, and helps them take on challenging projects step by step. She is
kind and encouraging and has a huge smile. She treats them like the intellects
they are, and she knows each kid so well it is incredible. She is the perfect
example of what a teacher can and should be for all kids. But as you know,
teaching gifted kids requires additional insight and perhaps patience, both of
which she has. Some of these kids are so smart that they are frequently faced
with adults (other teachers too) who are bothered/scared by their questions, or
their quick answers. Cara is not afraid to say she does not know - or to let the
kids know that even she got one answer wrong on a vocab. test. So they respect
her - know she is honest (they can usually tell!) and feel comforted by her
example that they are not expected to be perfect all the time! (This is a huge
issue especially with my gifted girls for whom perfection - or striving for it -
is definitely an issue). She is not afraid to engage them in working 'with' her
to solve a problem, which is a great way for bright kids to work and learn!
She also has 2 young children, and her husband teaches science (I think) at the
middle school. She has also taught after school programs at the elementary
schools in Darien, including a class on 'American Girl crafts' where they talked
about periods of history and made things for American Girl dolls related to the
period, etc. She is incredibly energetic, and I think we need to encourage young
teachers who have lots of personal things going on at home, but who nonetheless
bring so much to the table in terms of knowing the latest and most recent info
on the gifted (not the 'I know it all' - attitude lots of older teachers get).
She received her Bachelors in Human Development and Elementary Ed. from Wheelock
College in 1993. She attended Manhattanville College and received a Masters in
Teaching with a concentration and certification in Reading and Special
Education. She began her career teaching Kindergarten at Royle School in 1995.
She has worked with children in a variety of capacities teaching, enrichment,
special education and support services since then. She began teaching the gifted
in 2005. She has taught gifted students in grades 1,2,3 and 4 for the Darien
Public Schools. -- Allison Molkenthin
Kelly Bozzomo,
Gifted Support Teacher, Simmons
Elementary School
She displays a wonderful dedication to her students and presents them with
wonderful challenges, while keeping it fun and interesting! Kelly provides them
with an enriching environment in which the students thrive with creativity! --
Julie Grey
Kelly Bozzomo,
Gifted Support Teacher, Simmons
Elementary School
Mrs. Bozzomo is the best enrichment teacher in the world and I, as her student,
think she deserves this award.
Every year, Mrs. Bozzomo chooses a topic to study in enrichment. She then spends
the whole year coming up with ideas related to our topic. This year, it was
inventions.
We started off by designing an inventor’s log. In it, we wrote down everyday
objects such as a balloon, paper clip, or an empty jar with a lid and then wrote
down every possible use for the object except the real use. We then chose an
inventor to write a report on. You wrote one report telling about your inventor
and one with you as the inventor telling about yourself.
We also did a game called solutions. In “Solutions”, Mrs. Bozzomo wrote
questions on her white board and the groups had to come up with different
solutions. For example, one question was, “How do you find an invisible person
in a room who doesn’t want to be found?” The solution my group came up with was
to move all the furniture out of the room and get a bunch of friends. The
friends would line up on one side of a room with a paintbrush (that had paint on
it) and walk to the other side of the room. If someone sees floating paint
later, they will know where the invisible person is. We really enjoyed this.
Near the end of enrichment, every student made an invention of their own to
enter in a contest judged at the school by an actual inventor. I invented the
Super Soccer Trainer and won 1st place in the sports category.
Throughout the school year, Mrs. Bozzomo travels to different schools each day
to teach the enrichment students. In my school, Simmons, the 4th graders have
enrichment on Tuesdays after lunch. We can eat lunch with our classmates or in
Mrs. Bozzomo’s room with her and the other enrichment students…everybody always
chooses to eat and talk with Mrs. Bozzomo.
Mrs. Bozzomo is a great enrichment teacher and I hope she continues to teach me
for a long time. -- Taylor L.
Kelly Bozzomo,
Gifted Support Teacher, Simmons
Elementary School
Kelly Bozzomo is a special person. Kelly works for a public school system with
children grades 1-5 organizing the gifted support program. Her program include
field trips, weekly meetings, projects, games, contests, and varied learning
activities. The children are always stimulated and participate actively with
every task. They voluntarily miss lunch once a week with their peers to eat
lunch with Kelly and start their weekly session early. My daughter was tested in
second grade to be in Enrichment and since there was no organized program yet
for second grade, Kelly would meet with Taylor individually to supplement her
education and meet the needs of her IEP. In a time of "No child left behind" she
goes above and beyond to make sure her children's needs are met. -- Alicia
Brennan Lis
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 December 01, 2020
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