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2004 Outstanding First-Year Teacher Award
The California Association for Employment in Education (CAEE) recently recognized four first-year teachers in California for their unique and creative contributions to the education profession. The $500 CAEE award was given to one multiple subject teacher and one single subject teacher in Northern and Southern California.
Criteria for the awards included: special accomplishments, unique and creative contributions, highlights of instructional skills, interaction with students, parents and peers, and innovative programs and projects which distinguished the nominee from other first-year teachers.
CAEE links colleges, universities, school systems, students and education professionals to encourage employment in the field of education. CAEE membership consists of school district hiring personnel along with college and university education placement professionals.
The single subject recipients are:
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Jason Black
James Lick High School
East Side Union School District
Mr. Jason Black has distinguished himself as an outstanding first-year teacher in many ways. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Black has been involved in a number of different activities that are geared toward the success of his students and also the success of other students at James Lick. First of all—on a strictly volunteer basis—Mr. Black is involved in a steering committee that was organized by Brenda Childress, the Director of Career Services at the East Side Union High School District Office. The purpose of the committee is to find ways of improving the academic achievement of African-American students at James Lick and throughout all the schools within the district. The committee has adopted plans for teachers to meet individually with African-American students at each site, build stronger relationships with parents and develop support groups for the students so that they may feel empowered and supported in the task of improving their academic standing. The committee is also developing plans for the continuing education of all district teachers on dealing with race-sensitive issues and strategies for further meeting the needs of our culturally diverse school district.
Secondly, Mr. Black is a member of a focus group at James Lick that is seeking to implement Small Learning Communities at the school sight. One of James Lick High School's directors, Joel Herrera, has been studying Small Learning Communities or the "school-within-a-school" model for several years. And, he feels that this method of instruction is a very effective tool toward building more satisfying relationships between students and their teachers. Also, developing Small Learning Communities is a powerful way of improving the academic achievement of students at the same time. Mr. Black volunteered to be a part of this ground-breaking endeavor at James Lick and the focus group hopes to have Small Learning Communities in place at James Lick High School as early as the 2004-2005 school year.
Inside the classroom, Mr. Black uses his experience as a stand-up comedian to bring a lively teaching style to his lessons and to effectively manage his students. More specifically, Mr. Black's humor serves as a way of breaking down walls that have traditionally stood between teacher and student. Mr. Black has a way of interjecting humor into his lessons to lighten the mood of his class while at the same time clearing a pathway for very effective classroom management. Mr. Black believes that a student who feels at ease is better able, and willing, to interpret and subsequently follow directions.
Beyond his sense of humor, Mr. Black is outstanding in terms of his diligence and organizational skills. No matter how full his plate may be, Mr. Black makes grading papers and handing them back to students his top priorities. By doing this, his students always know where they stand and can seek help if needed. Mr. Black's students are also able to learn by Mr. Black's example. They can see the importance of always staying on top of one's job. When getting work back, they appreciate Mr. Black's efforts and receive instant gratification for their performance.
In addition to his diligence as a teacher, Mr. Black draws upon his extensive exposure to other cultures in order to reach out to the culturally diverse population of James Lick High School. Mr. Black taught English in Japan between 1998 and 2000. Additionally, he taught English Language Development to an eclectic mix of foreign students at Seaside High School during the 2001-2002 school year. And, Mr. Black grew up in the same culturally diverse neighborhood in which he teaches. All these experiences help Mr. Black understand the complex cultural intricacies of the students that he teaches. Students are drawn to Mr. Black because they realize that his level of cultural empathy goes far beyond what they are using to seeing.
Currently, Mr. Black teaches Reading, Health and Driver's Education at James Lick High School.
Richard Esparza
Principal
James Lick High School
East Side Union School District
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Kathryn Smuts
Edgewood Middle School
West Covina Unified School District
I am writing this letter of support for Kathryn Smuts, a first year Mathematics teacher at Edgewood Middle School.
Kathryn is doing an excellent job for a first year teacher. Her patience and dedication in the classroom are two reasons why her students are having success. She uses a variety of teaching strategies, monitors progress and is willing to help any student at any time. Kathryn has become an integral member of our Mathematics department.
Kathryn has been an integral part of the departments benchmark exams, both in their development and the analysis of the results. She works with her grade level team to improve the educational environment for students. She also tutors after school to allow students the opportunity for self-growth.
Kathryn maintains classroom control at all times. The students know what to expect when they enter the classroom and there is never a wasted moment. There is always a smooth transition from one activity to another. Kathryn expects quality work from each of her students and pushes them to work to their highest level.
I have been in Kathryn's classroom many times, either on a formal observation or an informal walks through, and her students are always on task and there is learning taking place. She has become a positive member of our staff family.
I am truly impressed with the work Kathryn is doing. As the year progresses, I can see the growth she is making. Please call for further questions.
Jim Mandala
Principal
Edgewood Middle School
West Covina Unified School District
The multiple subject award recipients are:
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Diane Schmidt
Marshall Pomeroy Elementary
Milpitas Unified School District
Diane Schmidt's optimistic and uplifting spirit enables her to accomplish a tremendous amount with her students and peers. As a first year teacher she began the year feeling anxious about her ability to meet the needs of her students, but she has exceeded all expectations. Mrs. Schmidt's students are achieving their learning goals and meeting standards in a learning environment that fosters a sense of commitment and responsibility. Without her guidance, several of her students would not have made the transition from the primary to intermediate grades as well as they did. Mrs. Schmidt has learned to set the prerequisites in place that are needed for optimum student achievement.
Diane Schmidt effectively works with students who demonstrate a spectrum of learning abilities. For example, she has students in heterogeneous groups that are provided with learning situations requiring both interdependent and independent learning throughout the day. During a lesson on timelines that I observed, I noted that students who were second language learners, as well as students in the special education program were all successfully identifying key events in a story she read about Christopher Reeves. They were able to do so because she had developed procedures for peer assistance that did not interrupt instruction. It was quite exciting to see the students empowering one another without specific direction to do so from Mrs. Schmidt. In another lesson involving a read aloud, Mrs. Schmidt provided support for struggling readers by having them read as trios. Because the trios read intermittently between individual readers, it appeared that the students were randomly reading alone or in small groups. In fact, Mrs. Schmidt planned the reading according to the needs of her learners. All students feel successful in Diane Schmidt's class because she nurtures them in a firm yet caring manner.
Many of our students beyond Mrs. Schmidt's class have the luxury of interacting with her in a variety of learning activities. She has strengthened the music curriculum that our 4th and 5th grade students have through her community ties and generous efforts to share her talents with others. Each month 100 of our students meet with Mrs. Schmidt's class to learn musical melodies and rhythms that her guest presenter teaches them. Mrs. Schmidt opens her doors early in the morning to work with primary age students on furthering their math skills so that they can meet content standards. After school her own, as well as other teachers' 4th grade students, can be found working on homework and talking with Mrs. Schmidt about their concerns and daily events in their lives. Mrs. Schmidt collaborates with a 6th grade teacher so that our intermediate students may enjoy structured intramural sports. We also have the luxury of a student newspaper that Mrs. Schmidt facilitates after school. Without the creative contributions of Mrs. Schmidt, we wouldn't have a school newspaper or the enriched music program that she has introduced to Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School.
Despite my efforts to discourage teacher request letters from parents, several in our school community have already requested that their children be in Mrs. Schmidt's class next year thanks to her remarkable rapport that she has built with the parents of her own students. As a principal, it is so wonderful to find a teacher who knows how to develop strong parent relationships, especially with parents who have been outspoken about their child's teachers in the past. Parents are pleased with Mrs. Schmidt because they see that their children are learning a great deal, and that she cares about their welfare and social development as well. Like the students, parents know that Mrs. Schmidt wants to see every child successfully master content standards while developing a strong sense of social commitment.
Colleagues enjoy the wonderful sense of camaraderie that Diane Schmidt brings to our intermediate teaching team. One teacher said that this year is so much more enjoyable for her because she feels she can collaborate with Diane, and that her teaching has been enhanced through their teamwork. Mrs. Schmidt seeks to bring harmony to others through her interactions with them. I often hear her asking our secretary, custodian, health clerk, and other staff members about their day, and if things aren't going well, she inevitably offers assistance. Mrs. Schmidt is a dynamic first year teacher who embraces all those in her sphere of influence so that we can all be our best. Diane Schmidt is a superior beginning teacher and I am thankful for this opportunity to nominate her for the CAEE Outstanding First-Year Teacher Award.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Jordan
Principal
Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School
Milpitas Unified School District
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Tammy Kokash
Walter Knott School
Centralia School District
I am pleased to write this letter of support for Tammy Kokash whom I have nominated for the CAEE Outstanding First Year Teacher Award on behalf of the Centralia School District. Tammy has taught 2nd grade at Walter Knott School during the 2003-2004 school year. During this time I have had numerous opportunities to observe and work with her in a variety of situations. Tammy has designed her entire classroom around a very innovative "sports" theme that has contributed to the success of all her students in every area of our school setting. Besides being an outstanding teacher, Tammy is my "Coach of the Year."
Tammy's classroom management and instructional program revolves around a sports theme with the primary focus on teamwork. Her room is called "Team 22" and the students refer to their classroom as the "dugout." Students are assigned positions such as goalie, sports announcer, coach, and team captain. Discipline is handled in a positive manner by using sports bucks that can be utilized to "purchase" items during the class auctions. Errors and strikes are given when students have not behaved appropriately. The concept of teamwork and working collaboratively takes place all day—in small groups or large groups during instruction, during lunch, recess, and other times when students are not in the classroom. By working together, students have learned to solve conflicts in a mature and appropriate manner without adult intervention.
Tammy relates exceptionally well to her peers as well as to the parents of her students. The response of students, parents, and school staff has been exceptionally positive toward her. She is frank and outgoing and exhibits a pleasant and friendly personality. Her appearance is beyond reproach, and her classroom, always organized and nice decorated, reflects her positive, optimistic attitude. Her enthusiasm, her innovativeness, and her genuine concern for her students are exemplary. She is flexible in working with students, parents and staff. She stands out as an excellent teacher who truly cares about children and their success.
Tammy has already demonstrated the highest level of professional commitment to her students and colleagues. To carry out her professional responsibilities, she gives generously of her time, and often her work extends beyond the school day.
Tammy has learned and implemented instructional strategies that have enabled her to assist students in reaching their maximum academic potential. She constantly monitors her students during instructional time and seatwork, being certain that everyone understands and is able to practice new concepts in a satisfactory manner. Students who require extra assistance receive one on one or small group instruction with Tammy. She makes herself available to students after school, as well as during recess and lunch times.
Her ability to reach every student is phenomenal. Each student knows that Tammy truly cares about them and they are eager to please her. Seeing that teaching is her passion and that she wants every student to succeed is a true motivational tool. The enthusiasm and desire to learn is evident with every student in Tammy's class. There are several students in her class who have experienced academic and behavioral challenges in the past. This year I have seen a tremendous change in these students—they are experiencing success and have grown tremendously in self-confidence.
Tammy relates exceptionally well to parents, as well. She is open and honest with them at all times. She communicates with them on a regular basis via telephone, notes, or with personal conference. Parents listen to her advice and treat her with the utmost respect. She displays confidence in her ability and parents respond to her as though she has been teaching for many years. Tammy displays unique insight into the types of strategies that will assist each individual student. Working together with parents has helped all of her students grow academically as well as socially.
Tammy has an exceptionally positive relationship with all staff members, something that was apparent from her first day at our school. She has many good ideas, and when planning with her grade level colleagues, she has much to offer. I have seen the second grade team of teachers really come together to as a team this year. This I attribute to Tammy's presence and leadership skills. Her colleagues look to her for guidance and she has made many excellent contributions to their planning.
In my 20 years of being a site level administrator, I have never had a new teacher impress me the way Tammy has. She knows the strengths and weaknesses of her students and adapts her instructional program to meet their needs. She is flexible and can change a lesson when she feels students are not grasping a concept. She has phenomenal intuition and seems to always know what is going to work or how she can modify her instruction to meet every student's need.
Because of Tammy's ability to motivate all of her students to excel in all areas, I highly recommend her without reservation for the honor of CAEE's Outstanding First Year Teacher Award.
Sincerely,
Jim Luft
Principal
Walter Knott School
Centralia School District
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