Tag Archives: Elementary Teachers

Maryland Elem teacher Kelly Cannon earns award from SMECO

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Kelly Canon, an elementary school STEM teacher from Maryland, is the recipient of a 2024 Outstanding Teacher award from the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. Photo Credit:

Congratulations go to Kelly Cannon, an elementary school teacher from Maryland. She was the recipient of a 2024 Outstanding Teacher award from the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO).

The annual honor is awarded to 20 outstanding teachers who have taught mathematics, science, technology, and engineering courses in the school systems of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties. The winning teachers were selected for their creativity, rapport with students, enthusiasm for teaching, professionalism, and innovative teaching methods.

Kelly teaches mathematics at Mount Harmony Elementary School in Owings, Maryland.

Over the past 33 years, SMECO has recognized nearly 500 teachers in an effort to support teachers who bring real-world science and math applications into the classroom. Each honored teacher receives a plaque and a cash award.

 

VT elem teacher Aziza Malik named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year

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Vermont elementary school teacher Aziza Malik has been named her state’s 2024 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Colchester Sun

I am always excited to share the story of an outstanding teacher who has earned recognition for their work in the classroom. Today I share the story of Aziza Malik, an elementary school teacher from Vermont. She has been named her state’s 2024  Teacher of the Year by the Vermont Agency of Education.

Aziza teaches fifth grades at Champlain Elementary School in Burlington. She has taught there for the past 14 years. In her classroom, the honored teacher emphasizes connections between the Burlington School District and the local Indigenous population, the Abenaki. “Opportunities to weave in Indigenous ways of knowing and being are everywhere,” asserts Aziza. “I’m not talking about designing curriculum that teaches about Abenaki culture, I’m talking about using the lens of Abenaki culture to learn literacy, science and math skills; and writing, advocacy, collaboration and communication,” she explains.

She is also a big believer in hands-on learning. For example, she recently led her students on a field trip where they collected acorns, dogwood, and willow bare roots f to plant in their native tree nursery. Once the plants are grown, the students will distribute them throughout the city of Burlington.

In fact, through community partnerships, Aziza secured an intern to help plan, maintain, and assist teachers in developing the school grounds into an active outdoor classroom. The internship evolved into a full-time garden educator position, connecting teachers’ curriculum to hands-on garden activities in the growing months and cooking activities in the winter. This position, piloted under her leadership at Champlain Elementary, has expanded to become a model program across other schools in her district.

Aziz earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Humboldt State University in Acata, California. She earned her Master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainability from the University of Vermont (UVM). In 2022, she garnered the UVM Outstanding Teacher Award. Currently, Aziza is a participant in the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms program, a program that is focused on creating international connections.

 

Washington teacher Renae Skar named finalist for prestigious PAEMST award

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Elementary school teacher Renae Skar of Washington state has been named a state finalist for a prestigious 2024 PAEMST award. Photo Credit: The Reflector

It is always my pleasure to recognize outstanding teachers who have earned accolades for their work in the profession. Today I shine a spotlight on Renae Scar, an elementary teacher from Washington. She has been named a state finalist for a prestigious 2024 PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching).

The PAEMST honors the dedication, hard work, and importance that America’s teachers play in supporting learners who will become future STEM professionals, including computer technologists, climate scientists, mathematicians, inventors, space explorers, and engineers. The PAEMST program, founded in 1983, is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The honor comes with a visit to the White House and a $10,000 cash prize.

Renae Skar teaches fourth grade at Hockinson Heights Elementary School (HHES) in Hockinson, She has taught there for seven years. In a career that spans a total of 19 years, she has taught every grade level from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Renae is a huge proponent of project-based learning. In fact, she says all of her science units begin with a real-world problem or project. “My students love anything hands-on, but if I had to choose one concept that has a lasting and meaningful impact on students, it’s our salmon unit,” Renae declares. “Students love learning about and raising salmon. We learn about salmon throughout the year, which culminates in releasing the salmon we raise into their natural habitat,” she continues. “Having such a meaningful, real-world experience is memorable and demonstrates how actions can make a difference,” she concludes.

Every teacher can support students in science learning, Renae says. “Look for science in the everyday world,” she advises. “Science is all around us and does not require a laboratory or a doctorate to become accessible,” she believes. “Ask children why they think something is the way it is, then listen and explore their ideas. Science is all about curiosity, which all students have an innate sense of already,” she declares.

Renae Skar: A true Chalkboard Champion.

Teacher Juanita Harris supports frontline educational workers

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Arkansas kindergarten teacher Juanita Harris supports frontline educational workers through her Teachers Support Teachers program. Photo Credit: Juanita Harris

We know that educators dedicate themselves to taking good care of their students. But there are cases when these teachers dedicate themselves to taking care of their fellow educators, too. One of these is Juanita Harris, a kindergarten teacher from Texarkana. In addition to her work in the classroom, Juanita is founder and CEO of Teachers Support Teachers, an organization whose mission is to provide care and support to fellow educators.

Teachers Support Teachers provides much-needed self-care for frontline educational workers, a group which includes teachers, paraprofessionals, school librarians, cafeteria workers—anyone who spends at least 85% of the instructional day working directly with and for students. The self-care comes in the form of massages, pedicures, funds for supplies, celebratory cookouts, group therapy sessions, and more. “Our mission is to encourage the hearts that shape the minds,” declares Juanita.

This effort is especially important now, asserts Juanita. She notes that educators struggled greatly through the Covid-19 years, but even though those years are behind us, teachers continue to struggle. Many teachers are feeling under-appreciated, under-valued, and under-paid. All over the country, large numbers of them are choosing to leave the profession. “I don’t believe we have a teacher shortage problem,” she says. “We have a teacher retention problem.” She founded Teachers Support Teachers to help address the emotional and professional needs of teachers so that they will stay in the profession.

Through her efforts, Juanita not only provides self-care for educators, but she also supports small businesses in her area. For example, at a recent teacher appreciation event, she partnered with a local teacher supply store, neighborhood restaurants, the community bank, and even a local balloon store.

In the five years since Juanita has founded the organization, the effort has spread to other states, and she is actively working to create a more widespread movement. To learn more, to find out how to become a partner with the organization, or to make a contribution, simply click on this link: Teachers Support Teachers.

Kiana Foster-Mauro named 2024 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher Kiana Foster-Mauro has been named the 2024 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Connecticut Education Association

It is always my pleasure to share the story of an outstanding educator who has earned accolades for their work in the classroom. Today, I share the story of Kiana Foster-Mauro, an elementary school teacher who has been named the 2024 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year.

Kiana teaches fourth grade at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School in New London, Connecticut. She has taught there for the past three years. Kiana is passionate about working with her young students. “Every day as a teacher should be a step outside your comfort zone,” asserts Kiana. “I love that every day is a new adventure. I don’t go to work expecting the same thing as the previous day,” she continues. “I love connecting with new students each year and being part of their lives,” she concludes.

Kiana has been a member of the National Association for Multicultural Education since 2018 and was recently accepted to present on facilitating critical conversations around current events, identity, human rights and mental health. In addition, she has been a presenter at conferences at both the national and local levels. She also works as a dance teacher at The Dance Extension, and as a company advisor to the Community Dance Ensemble. 

Kiana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education with minors in History and Human Rights in 2020, and she earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2021, both from the University of Connecticut. While there, she served on the Executive Board of Leadership in Diversity, a student-led organization advocating diversity in education. She also completed a graduate internship with a nonprofit where she developed a human rights curriculum for grades K-4.

To read more about Kiana, click on this link to an article about her published by the Connecticut Education Association.