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DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION:
VERMONT TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND
OTHER EDUCATOR/PROGRAM RECOGNITION AWARDS
(Updated 10/17/11)
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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
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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. These nominations are accepted year round.
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| VERMONT TEACHER OF THE YEAR |
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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. |
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2012 Teacher of the Year: Tong Chen |
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2012 Vermont Teacher of the Year
Tong Chen
Leland & Gray Union High School |
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Tong Chen, a middle and high school Chinese teacher at Leland & Gray Union High School in Townsend, was named by Commissioner Armando Vilaseca as the 2012 Vermont Teacher of the Year.
As the 2012 Teacher of the Year, Chen will travel statewide visiting schools and working with teachers. In addition, she is Vermont’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers. She will also travel to Washington, D.C. this spring for a reception at the White House, where she will meet the president.
Chen, a resident of Bennington, has taught Chinese language and culture at Leland & Gray for over six years. She is the only authorized AP Chinese teacher in Vermont, and has written three textbooks for her students and other Vermont students to use. She is actively involved in the Journey East Art and Culture Exchange Program, The Governor’s Institute on Asian Culture, University of Vermont’s Asian Studies Outreach Program, and Vermont’s Virtual High School, offering Mandarin Chinese to other Vermont students. She also acts as a translator for Chinese immigrants across New England. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership.
She credits her parents, who were visiting from China and attended Tuesday’s event, with inspiring her to pursue her education.
“My teaching style is a combination of a Chinese and an American approach, strict and free,” she wrote in her application. “My teaching sets high expectations and passes the message to the students that learning is a serious matter, but it can be fun and inspiring…The rewards that I find in teaching are when students become passionate about learning the Chinese language and culture, become passionate about understanding the world, and to prepare them to be world citizens.” |
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2012 Alternate and Finalists |
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The 2012 alternate Teacher of the Year is Jeff Johnson, a physical education teacher at Mt. Anthony Union Middle and High School in Bennington. Mark Weikert, a physical education teacher at Flood Brook Union School in Londonderry, and Glenda Allen, a literacy and math teacher at Barre Town Elementary School in Barre Town, were the finalists. |
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Past Recipients |
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2011 Vermont Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Lawson, a middle school language arts and social studies teacher at Vergennes Union High School in Vergennes. |
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2010 Vermont Teacher of the Year
Craig Divis, a Social Studies teacher at Bellows Falls Union High School since 2004. He currently teaches World Cultures, World History, A.P. European History, and Senior Seminar. |
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2009 Vermont Teacher of the Year
Diana Leddy, a grade three, four and five teacher at The Newton School in South Strafford. |
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Selection Process |
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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 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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Nomination & Application Forms |
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The nomination and application forms for the 2012 Vermont Teacher of the Year Award are due by April 18, 2011.
For more information contact Jill Remick at (802) 828-3154 or jill.remick@state.vt.us. |
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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.
Essex Teacher Wins National Educator Award
On Monday, October 17, 2011, Maria Ung was surprised at an all school assembly with a $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.
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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PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING (PAEMST)
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The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States.
2012 Nominations for Elementary School Teachers
Anyone—principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public—may nominate exceptional math or science teachers teaching grades K-6 for the 2012 award year.
How to Apply :
- First, you must be nominated by by April 1, 2012.
- Then complete your application by May 1, 2012.
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Looking for more information? Contact Kathy Renfrew or visit the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching website.
2010 PAEMST
On April 28, 2011 President Obama named 85 mathematics and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The award winners went to Washington, DC and were recognized by President Obama.
View additional information about the award and/or submit a nomination form. |
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OTHER RECOGNITION
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2011 State Board of Education Martha H O’Connor Award Nominations 
This award is presented annually to a private citizen who most closely follows the ideals embodied during Martha’s tenure with the State Board of Education. The nominee should be someone from a community who is not currently paid by a school district but who is dedicated to Vermont’s school children. |
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2011 Fit and Healthy Kids School Wellness Award Recipients
These honors recognize schools whose policies and practices reflect a high priority on healthy outcomes for children and staff. Top scoring schools receive cash prizes to support school wellness activities and a banner recognizing their efforts. |
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Vermont Students Selected for US Senate Youth Program
Senators Patrick J. Leahy and Bernard Sanders today announced the names of the two students who have been selected as delegates to the 49th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will be held March 5 – 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Sam Epstein of Shelburne and Katherine Meyer of Williston were chosen from across the state to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the program’s 49th annual Washington Week. |
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Real World Design Challenge 2010 Vermont Winners
Vermont's State Champions in the Real World Design Challenge spent the weekend of March 27 and 28, 010 in Washington, D.C. competing with 20 other state teams for the National championship. South Burlington's Team, Amelia's Airhearts, presented their work and technical documents around the design of an aircraft tail structure on Saturday. While they did not take the final championship, they did astoundingly well and the judges made note to watch for the Vermont team next year. Steve Barner, the coach, led the team through the State competition that took place over the fall and winter and accompanied the team to Washington. The students, Neel Desai, Matthew Gilmartin, Carly Kemp, Neharika Khandavalli, Ariel Langevin, Riya Patel and Vishnukumaar Premsankar presented brilliantly, and in fact was the favored team in their presentation room early in the morning. The students also held the distinction of being the youngest team in the competition. Some of the team members were 13 years old, competing with seniors from other state teams. In the end, Kansas was crowned the national champion. If your school has an interest in an intensive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related education experience, find out how to get involved next year. Trainings will take place over the summer. Check out Real World Design Challenge at http://realworlddesignchallenge.org. |
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