2016 Excellence in Teaching Award Winners

"She is a model teacher for the staff, running data meetings with grade levels, sharing best practices and inviting teachers from all over the state to come into her classroom to observe."

“Ms. Chiariello uses her course content—American History and Economics—to engage students in larger questions about who we are and how we’ve gotten to this point in our history."

“Not only do Ms. Gus’ scholars love her class, but her achievement data supports that what she is doing works. She empowers her students to set high expectations for themselves and soar above those expectations. She is amazingly creative."

“Ms. Masloski makes learning an awesome adventure. I watch how she interacts with her students and see her students’ academic achievement: it validates that her instructional expertise, creativity and innovation are working for her scholars."

“Just walk into Ms. Morell’s classroom. You can see, hear and feel the learning taking place. Her style is incredible. … She creates such importance around the educational environment that students don’t want to let her down."

“Ms. Sims has always been a classroom innovator. Her greatest strength is her ability to increase student motivation and achievement by ensuring that her classroom practice is culturally aware, grounded in the real world and adolescent centered."

“Mr. Small’s students are constantly engaged in discussions, writing scenarios and programming activities. His Computer Science course combines symposium-like discussions with challenging problem-solving scenarios."

“Ms. Thompson is an inspiration and example for the staff at our school. She is an expert at project planning, applied learning and making connections between her lessons and the world outside her classroom."

“Ms. Whitmer has an extraordinary learning environment. Children are all over the classroom working independently, in small groups, at tables and on the rug—wherever they are comfortable. Her children are always singing.”

“Ms. Wojtowicz approaches students with love, respect and empathy. She begins each day with a morning meeting to help build the classroom community and enable scholars to speak about matters that make them proud, or matters that trouble them.”