Math educator Brian McLaughlin named Tennessee’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

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Math educator Brian McLaughlin named Tennessee’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

I love to write stories about teachers who have been honored for their hard work in the classroom. Today I get to write about math educator Brian McLaughlin, who has been named the Tennessee’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

Brian said he was shocked when the announcement of his selection was made. The Teacher of the Year is usually selected from one of three Grand Division winners. But this year, the Tennessee Department of Education broke their tradition and selected a Teacher of the Year in addition to three Grand Division winners.

Brian’s passion for teaching was ignited at a very young age. When he was only 13, with his math teacher went out on maternity leave. With no substitute available, the student took on the role and taught the class. That experience inspired him to make teaching his life career. After his high school graduation, Brian enrolled at Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. There he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He earned his Master’s in Education from Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee.

In a career that has spanned 11 years, Brian currently teaches Algebra, Honors Algebra, and AP Statistics at West High School in Morristown, Hamblen County, Tennessee. The school is located in a rural area with widespread poverty and homeless, and a large population of English language learners.

Brian’s philosophy of teaching focuses on an abstract perspective. He asserts this fosters creativity in problem-solving. By using this strategy, the innovative educator has earned Tennessee’s highest evaluation scores each year of his career. Most importantly, says Brian, is influencing students by reaching their hearts, and he is driven by a deep desire to ensure that each individual child’s personal needs are met. To this end, he uses a “destiny first” mindset, which he describes as centering curriculum and instruction around students’ career goals and ensuring that what they are doing in the classroom is relevant to achieving those goals.

Brian is also deeply invested in his community. He believes schools must collaborate with local government leaders and businesses to ensure that the world is preparing for his students at the same time his students prepare to impact the world.

To read more about Brian, see this link at CCSSO.

Retired NY teacher and school board member Sue Prokosch succumbs to Covid-19

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Retired junior high school social studies teacher and school board member Sue Prokosch of Newburgh, New York, succumbs to Covid-19.

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of many talented educators. One of these is Sue Prokosch, a retired teacher and school board member from Newburgh, New York. She passed away on March 30, 2020. She was 72 years old.

“Sue was an extraordinary woman with a large heart,” remembers her niece, Gina Cook. “She had strong ethics, beliefs, and views and was very candid. We always knew where we stood with her. We valued her opinion and worked hard to make her proud.”

Sue was born on January 14, 1948, in Newburgh, New York. She graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1966. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Teaching at State University of New York, Oneonta.

Sue inaugurated her career as an educator in 1970 when she accepted a position as a social studies teacher at North Junior High. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she worked closely with administrators on scheduling, curriculum, and peer mentoring. She also served her community as a basketball coach, even supporting girls sports before they were commonplace. Throughout her entire career, Sue was known to be dedicated to her students, especially those without a voice, and she worked tirelessly to help them achieve purpose in their lives.

After 33 years in the classroom, the veteran educator retired in 2003. Post-retirement, she spent ten years as a Newburgh school board member. During this time, Sue served on nearly every Board committee. Most recently, she served as the Chairwoman for the Buildings and Grounds and Personnel committees. She also supported the Newburgh Armory Unity Center (NAUC), an organization that provide high-quality academic enrichment opportunities to the children and families of Newburgh.

To read more about Sue, see her obituary at recordonline.com.

Indiana teacher Marisa Salasky uses creativity in online lesson about the Civil War

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Middle school social studies teacher Marisa Salasky of Fortville, Indiana, uses creativity to teach her students an online lesson about the Civil War.

During the closure of schools nationwide in response to the coronavirus pandemic, many talented educators are stretching their creative abilities even further than they normally do. Today I’d like to spotlight one such educator: Marisa Salasky, a middle school social studies teacher at Mr. Vernon Community School in Fortville, Vernon Township, Indiana.

Marisa, who is well-known for her innovative lesson plans, has been extending that creativity to the development of online curriculum, like the one pictured above. “What you’re looking at is a history teacher who has been desperate to do something more interactive to teach the Civil War than what she’s been doing,” Marisa shared on her Instagram. “SO enter: Toy Soldier re-enactment of Picketts Charge/Battle of Gettysburg, in my living room, on my couch… key players included: Viking Little People, Batman, and WWII soldiers.”

Marisa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education at Butler University in 2012. Butler is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Foreign language teacher Elisabeth Kahn named Vermont’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

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Middle school foreign language teacher Elisabeth Kahn has been named Vermont’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

I enjoy sharing stories about teachers who have earned applause for their hard work in the classroom. One of these is Elisabeth Kahn, a middle school foreign language teacher from Montpelier, Vermont, who has been named her state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

“This is an incredible honor,” expressed Elisabeth. “But no teacher works in isolation. We always look to our students and our colleagues for inspiration, fresh perspectives, and to challenge our thinking, and I’m so lucky to work with some of the best around,” she continued.

Elisabeth was born in Berlin, Washington County, Vermont. She was raised in Montpelier and attended elementary and middle schools in the city before graduating from The Taft School in Waterford, Connecticut. The honored educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish and her Master’s degree in French, both from Middlebury College. She is also a 2020 candidate for National Board certification in French. Her career as an educator has spanned 12 years.

Currently Elisabeth teaches fifth, seventh, and eighth grade French and Spanish at Main Street Middle School (MSMS) in Montpelier. She has taught there five years. The chalkboard champion has also taught at the Hamlin School in San Francisco, California, and at St. Paul’s School for Boys in Brooklandville, Maryland. In addition, for five years she worked at Putney Student Travel developing and leading student travel programs in Europe and Africa.

Elisabeth credits her success as an educator to her hard work towards getting to know her students. She says she is aware of the power of relationships in reaching all learners. In recognition of these efforts, students at her school recognized her with the Adult Citizenship Award in 2017. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Elisabeth is a member of the MSMS Leadership Team and the Technology Committee, where she leads professional development and implements district-wide priorities. When she worked at Hamlin, she served as the chair of the Eco-Council that sought to promote sustainable practices and curriculum.

In her classroom, Elisabeth promotes the value of traveling abroad to promote cultural competence in her students. Every year she takes her eighth graders on a trip to Quebec, Canada, so they can use their skills in a real-world setting.

For her work in the classroom, Elisabeth has earned many accolades. In 2011 she was recognized with the Irene C. Abbe Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2018 she earned the UVM Outstanding Teacher Award.

To read more about this amazing educator, see the article about her at CCSSO.