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DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION:
VERMONT TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND
OTHER EDUCATOR/PROGRAM RECOGNITION AWARDS
(Updated 4/9/09)
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This page contains Vermont Teacher of the Year and other educator awards as well as awards given in recognition of exceptional programs and activities taking place in Vermont's schools.
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VERMONT EDUCATORS TALENT POOL (Added 4/9/09)
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The State of Vermont maintains a file of emerging classroom leaders that consists of a cadre of distinguished teachers and principals. These educators may be considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces, as well as candidates for special recognition programs. Your recommendations will identify educators who will be of great value to your community and state and who may also ultimately receive prestigious recognition. We ask that you keep this recommendation confidential and do not share it with the individual. Contact Jill Remick at (802) 828-3154 or jill.remick@state.vt.us for more information. The due date for recommendations is June 30, 2009. (Added 4/9/09)
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VERMONT TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR 2009
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The mission of the Vermont Teacher of the Year Program is to promote the profession and recognize the best teaching professionals who are implementing "best practices" within classrooms. Vermont’s recipient represents the many excellent teachers in our state.
Each year a teacher from Vermont’s education community is recognized as the Vermont Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year is chosen through a thorough application and selection process. In accordance with national guidelines, Vermont chooses a candidate who is "dedicated and highly skilled, a candidate proven capable of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn." Because the Teacher of the Year will be asked to travel, speak on behalf of education and demonstrate master teaching skills, the candidate must be poised, articulate and energetic in order to meet the demanding responsibilities.
Although the teacher will continue to teach full time during this year, s/he is available for speaking engagements and content consultations in her/his area of expertise when possible. The Vermont program is sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets and the Vermont Department of Education. The Vermont Teacher of the Year also becomes a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award. For more than 40 years our nation has honored teachers with the National Teacher of the Year Program. The National Teacher of the Year Program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers and sponsored by ING Foundation.
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 Vermont Teacher of the Year for 2009: Diana Leddy, Newton School
Diana Leddy has been an elementary school teacher for 27 years. She currently team teaches in an innovative multiage cluster of third, fourth and fifth graders at the Newton School in South Strafford, where she has worked since 1983. Should you wish to visit her school and observe this multiage cluster, please call Newton School.
For over a decade, Diana has been a strong advocate for statewide literacy. She was part of the team that developed Vermont’s grade expectations in writing. She also helped to choose the state primary writing benchmarks and to lead the first primary writing network meetings. As a consultant to schools and school districts throughout Vermont, Diana has shared methods and materials for teaching writing through workshops, conference presentations and demonstration lessons. She has been a graduate instructor, as well as a college supervisor for student teachers, and has served as a content area specialist on the development team of the New Standards Reference Exam in English and Language Arts .
Diana is a strong believer in the power of collaboration. With her colleagues, she has co-authored two books for teachers. Their most recent book, “Writing for Understanding” applies the principles of backward planning to writing instruction, creating an approach designed to reach all students, particularly those who struggle with writing. A founding member of The Vermont Writing Collaborative, Diana is committed to their mission of supporting teachers as they work to help students become effective writers. Diana is available to provide workshops, advice and resources to teachers and schools interested in improving writing instruction.
The 2009 alternate Teacher of the Year is Kathryn Grace, a special educator at Founders Memorial School. The other finalist were Sandra Frizzell, a language arts teacher at North Country High School and Dr. Jonathan Rice, a science teacher at Green Mountain Middle/High School.
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Hannaford Brothers Company is a partner with the Vermont Department of Education in sponsoring the state’s Teacher of the Year program. The company helps support a dinner to celebrate the excellent work of many teachers in Vermont.
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Vermont Teacher of the Year Nomination Form & Application Form for 2010
The nomination and application process for the 2010 cycle is closed as of March 16, 2009. The following forms are provided for informational purposes ONLY:
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MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARDS
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The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards program provides public recognition and financial rewards to elementary and secondary schoolteachers, principals and other education professionals who are furthering excellence in education. By honoring outstanding educators, the program strives to attract, develop, motivate and retain talented people to the challenge and adventure of teaching. For more information, visit mff.org.
 2008 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award for Vermont
Shannon Lamb, an elementary educator at Kindle Farm School in Newfane, was surprised at an all-school assembly on October 17th with a $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.
An educator at Kindle Farm since 2004, Lamb works with grade 3-6 male students who struggled in traditional mainstream settings due to emotional or behavioral issues. As noted in her nomination, “her magic is that she has transformed their experiences, helping them to believe that they are not the neediest students, but rather the luckiest ones.” She is recognized by supervisors, peers and parents for her dedication, optimism and strong instructional practice that lead to success for her students. She worked to develop a school-wide portfolio assessment system, offers reading and writing workshops, provides professional development to other teachers, and introduces new curriculum to foster learning for all students in the school. (NOTE: Click the graphic to view a larger picture.)
For more information on the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards in Vermont, please contact Jill Remick at (802) 828-3154 or jill.remick@state.vt.us. |
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ANNUAL VERMONT EDUCATOR RECOGNITION DINNER FOR 2008
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The Vermont State Board of Education and the Department of Education hosted the First Annual Vermont Educator Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at the Capitol Plaza, Montpelier. Fifteen of Vermont’s top educators were recognized.
(Click graphic for larger view)
Front row, left to right: Joy Peterson, Allyn Kahle, Zohara Zarfati, Daniel Miller-Arsenault, Cathleen Butterfield, Sarah Squire (National Board Certified Teachers); Susan Hennessey (Milken Educator Award Winner)
Back row, left to right: Holly Kruse, Christopher Grantz, Caroline Grace, Nancy Kent (National Board Certified Teachers); Liz Mirra, Lisa Therrien, Laura Pratt (Presidential Scholar Finalists); Diane Bahrenburg (2008 Vermont Teacher of the Year) |
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