Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

VT math teacher Glenda Allen earns prestigious PAEMST award

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Congratulations to elementary school math teacher Glenda Allen of Barre, Vermont, who has earned a prestigious PAEMST award. Photo Credit: PSEMST

It is always exciting when a member of the professional community earns recognition for their work in the classroom. Glenda Allen, an elementary school teacher from Barre, Vermont, has earned such recognition. In 2020, she garnered a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

This prestigious award honors the dedication, hard work, and important role that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers. The honor comes with a $10,000 prize, a certificate signed by President Joe Biden, and a trip to Washington, DC, to attend an honors ceremony with the President.

Glenda inaugurated her career as an educator since 1998. For 22 years, she has worked at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School teaching fourth through sixth grades. Currently, she specializes in sixth grade mathematics. Prior to that, Glenda taught fourth grade at Arbor Elementary School.

As an elementary teacher, Glenda has taught all content areas, but her shift to specializing in mathematics nine years ago led to a self-driven journey of professional development. This remarkable educator has spent many hours in reflection on the engagement and effectiveness of her lessons and experimentation with new learning strategies. She says that while her mathematics toolbox has grown, it still has plenty of room for more. As a veteran teacher, she considers herself to still be learning how to best motivate and reach all learners of mathematics.

In addition to her responsibilities in the classroom, Glenda is influential in leadership roles that impact her entire school district. She has served as a grade level contact, a middle school leadership team representative, a data team representative, a curriculum committee leader, a chairperson and secretary for the local standards board, and a member of the negotiating team. Additionally, she is the teacher representative for the Vermont State Licensing Hearing Panel.

Glenda earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1997. She also holds a Certificate of Advanced Standing in Elementary and Special Education from the College of St. Elizabeth. In 2006, Glenda earned her Master’s degree from Union Institute and University.

Delaware’s Brandi Luloff has garnered prestigious PAEMST award

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Elementary school math teacher Brandi Luloff of Delaware has garnered a 2022 PAEMST award. Photo Credit: paemst.org

I always enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Brandi Luloff, an elementary teacher from Delaware who has garnered a  2022 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). This prestigious award honors the dedication, hard work, and important role that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, innovators, space explorers, and engineers.

In a career that has spanned 17 years, Brandi has spent the last six of them at Townsend Elementary School in Townsend, Delaware. She spent the previous six years teaching at Maclary Elementary and Gallaher Elementary Schools in the Christina School District. Prior to that, she taught kindergarten for five years at Bright Horizons Family Solutions.

In her classroom, Brandi uses problem-based learning and she designs curriculum that engages her students in real-world scenarios.

Brandi’s passion for teaching and mathematics goes beyond her classroom walls. She serves her school as a full-time Instructional Coach, a role in which she works closely with classroom teachers to support student learning across the curriculum. Also, she represents her school as the District Math Content Chair Representative and on the Math Task Leadership team. In addition, Brandi collaborates with the District Leadership Team to organize and facilitate curriculum events for families and staff. And she conducts Professional Learning Community meetings and District professional development programs.

In addition to her PAEMST honors, Brandi was named her District’s Teacher of the Year in 2018.

Brandi earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s degree in Elementary/Special Education from Wilmington University. She is currently attending Wilmington University to earn a Master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration.

To learn more about Brandi Luloff, see this article published in the Appoquinimink District News.

 

Marta Garcia named Massachusetts 2022 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary teacher Marta Garcia of Salem, Massachusetts, has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Massachusetts Computer Using Educators

Congratulations to Marta Garcia, an elementary teacher from Massachusetts, who has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. The award is presented each year to a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators within the state.

Marta teaches English as a Second Language to second and third graders at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School in Salem. Before accepting a position in the Salem Public School District in 2006, she taught in California and Spain. In all, her career as an educator has spanned 23 years.

The honored teacher helps students who are new immigrants to the country overcome obstacles with the language and culture. And she wants them to feel proud about their origins. “In my daily teaching, I try to help students nurture their identities and feel proud of their origins as they acquire new ways of seeing the world through a new culture and language,” declares Marta. “I consider myself the bridge on which my students can navigate opportunities coming from both sides, without rejecting one or the other.” To achieve this goal, Marta has served on her district’s Equity Matters team, multiple curriculum committees, and numerous English-learner task forces.

For her work as an educator, Marta has earned many accolades. She earned her district’s Read Trust Excellence in Science Teaching Award. In addition, the Massachusetts Association of Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages nominated her for their Teacher of the Year Award.

Marta earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Valladolid in Spain. She earned her Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages fro Salem State University. She first came to the United States as part of the Visiting Teachers from Spain program, and later she decided to relocate to this country.

 

Wyoming’s Diana Ohman: Successful politician and former elem teacher

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Former elementary teacher and politician Diana Ohman of Wyoming. Photo Credit: Casper Foundation and Alumni Association

There are many examples of talented classroom teachers who go on to successful careers in politics. One of them is Diana Ohman, a former elementary school teacher from Wyoming.

Diana was born Oct. 3, 1950, in Sheridan, Wyoming. Her family later moved to Gurley, Nebraska, where she attended Gurley High School. Once she earned her high school diploma, Diana returned to Wyoming to attend first Casper Community College, and then the University of Wyoming, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education and her Master’s degree in Education Administration. After completing her education, Diana worked as an elementary school teacher at a rural school in Casper. There she developed her organization skills by meeting the needs of all the students who were at different grade levels. Later she became a principal in Torrington.

In 1990, Diana was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, where she served until 1995. She was then elected Wyoming’s Secretary of State, a position she held from 1995 to 1999. Once her term was over, she worked as a school superintendent in Laramie County. She also became a Deputy Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA). In this role, she led the organization’s European Division and then, in 2009, she took charge of the Pacific Division. In 2011, she accepted a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Later, Diana worked in the National Cemetery Administration Department, where she was in charge of cemeteries throughout the Midwestern United States. The accomplished politician retired in 2018.

For her work in the classroom, Diana was named Best Teacher for Campbell County, Wyoming, in 1980. She also earned a State Principal Award from the US Office of Education in 1990.  She was also honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award by the Casper College Foundation and Alumni Association in 2009.

Deanne Moyle-Hicks named Nevada’s 2022 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary School teacher Deanne Moyle-Hicks of the Washoe County School District has been named Nevada’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: LinkedIn.com

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an exceptional teacher who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Deanne Moyle-Hicks, an elementary school teacher in the Washoe County School District in northern Nevada, is one of these. She has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Deanne teaches fourth grade at Natchez Elementary School, a Title 1 school located on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation. Teaching at this school presents a plethora of challenges, says Natchez Principal Jake Chapin. Most of the students live in poverty. A higher percentage of students than average have been diagnosed with a learning disability. And, because Native Americans have been hard hit by COVID-19, one in 20 students has faced the death of a parent, Chapin reports.

As a professional, Deanne is passionate about her students. She believes they deserve relevant and rigorous learning experiences. To provide her kids with consistency, she has looped with her current students since they were in the first grade. She believes in cultivating family partnerships, and she works diligently to build trust in her relationships with students and parents. This work has yielded a significant impact on student success and achievement.

Deanne’s service as Nevada’s 2022 Teacher of the Year is not the only work outside of the classroom the honored educator performs. She has collaborated with Opportunity 180, the Nevada PTA, and Nevada Succeeds. She also works with the Teachers and Leaders Council and the National Teach Plus Teacher Cabinet. In addition, she is a Teach Plus Nevada Policy Fellow; a National Understood Fellow; and a member of the Nevada National Board Professional Learning Network.

Deanne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She earned her Master’s in Literacy from Lesley University. She is also National Board certified. Her career as an educator spans 28 years.