Author Archives: Terry Lee Marzell
Message from NEA President Becky Pringle to kick-off Teacher Appreciation Week
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Teachers all over the country change the lives of millions of children every day. And in yet another year of challenges, our teachers’ immense work, creativity, and resilience have provided a much-needed sense of community and connection to our young people. Educators across America are working hard to ensure every student has the tools they need to reach their full potential.
The history of Teacher Appreciation Week dates back to the 1950s when a teacher named Mattye Whyte Woodridge began the movement to establish a national day to honor teachers. In 1953, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded Congress to set aside a day to recognize teachers. Back then, it was just a single day of recognition. However, due to the overwhelming support for honoring teachers, the National Education Association (NEA) successfully lobbied to turn it into a full week in 1986. Today, Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated annually during the first full week of May, with Teacher Appreciation Day falling on the Tuesday of that week.
This year, in 2024, Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated from May 6—10, with Teacher Appreciation Day falling on May 7. To celebrate this year, here is a message from Becky Pringle, President of the NEA. “Educators, you are leading the way. Guiding and protecting; nurturing and supporting our precious students all across this nation. Every day, all day, you provide our students with the tools they need to build a future that will help them live into their wildest dreams,” Pringle says.
Teachers, know that you are loved and appreciated! Have a wonderful day, this week and every week!
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Happy Cinco de Mayo, teachers!
Happy May 5, better known as Cinco de Mayo! On this day, Americans all over the country organize festivities to celebrate the Mexican culture.
Teachers know that, when celebrating Cinco de Mayo, It is very important to give students the accurate facts about how this holiday came to be. For example, did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico? Important as the date is to their history, this celebration is more widely observed in the United States and other parts of the world by the Mexican people. Of course, people in the town of Puebla in Mexico enjoy this festive event since the date is very significant for them.
For more information on the observation and significance of Cinco de Mayo you can take a look at the following websites:
About.com
http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofmexico/p/10cincodemayobasics.htm
History.com
http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo
Research Maniacs
http://www.researchmaniacs.com/Mexico/CincoDeMayo.html
Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy this festive holiday that celebrates the Mexican culture!
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Kimberly Kane one of seven finalist for Colorado’s 2024 Teacher of the Year
Middle school Language Arts teacher Kimberly Kane has been named one of seven finalists for Colorado’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Delta Middle School
There are many deviated and talented educators working in Colorado’s public schools. One them, Kimberly Kane, a middle school Language Arts teacher fro Delta. She was named as one of seven finalists for the state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year honors.
Kimberly teaches courses in English and Language Arts to sixth graders at Delta Middle School in Delta County, Colorado. There she enjoys a reputation for creating a positive, inclusive learning environment. Kimberly says she believes that authentic relationships, consistency in instruction, and expectations are the keys to success in helping every student succeed both in and out of the classroom. To further support her students, she implemented a school-wide peer tutoring program.
In addition to her classroom curriculum, Kimberly mentors her district’s new teachers, guiding them through best practices in classroom management and instructional strategies.
For her hard work and expertise with new teachers and peer tutors, Kimberly was honored by her district with the Passion for Teaching Award. In addition, she was recognized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as their Teacher of the Year for Delta County and the Western Slope. The organization chose Kimberly for this award for her active role in developing citizenship and patriotism within her school’s student body.
Kimberly earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Interdisciplinary Studies and her Master’s degree in Secondary Education Social Studies, both from Liberty University, a private university located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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Teacher Kayla Jackson honored by the Florida State Dept. of Education
Elementary school teacher Kayla Jackson has earned recognition from the Florida State Department Education. Photo Credit: Florida State Department of Education
There are many fine educators who work in the state of Florida. One of them, Kayla Jackson, has earned recognition from her state’s Department of Education as one of 74 District Teachers of the Year, and one of five finalists for Florida’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.
Kayla inaugurated her teaching career at Memorial Elementary School in Highlands County when the school first opened in 2008. Currently, she serves as a fifth-grade math and science teacher. She has a reputation for being a high impact teacher multiple years in a row, and her students have achieved significant learning gains on state assessments. But she says her role goes beyond presenting lessons to also knowing her students and what they are capable of learning when challenged. “I see in my students what some don’t yet see in themselves,” she declares. “I set high expectations for them, and push them to achieve goals they might not think are achievable.”
In addition to her work with young students, Kayla is a mentor to beginning teachers, she supports her school’s Student of the Month program, she leads professional development for her colleagues, and she serves on the Curriculum Leadership Team.
Kayla earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of South Florida.
This year’s five 2024 Teacher of the Year state finalists were chosen from more than 185,000 public school teachers throughout the state. After each school district selects its teacher of the year, a committee comprised of teachers, principals, parents, and the business community reviews each district application. The honorees are selected using the criteria of outstanding ability to teach and the ability to communicate knowledge of the subject taught, professional development, philosophy of teaching, and outstanding school and community service.
