Brian Anderson, English, grades 11-12, Redmond High School, Lake Washington School District
After 28 years of teaching, Brian Anderson truly believes that teachers can make a profound difference in the lives of their students. In his classroom, students feel safe sharing their writing, and they become skilled at analyzing each other's work and giving and receiving constructive criticism. This supportive environment nurtures students' writing abilities. In fact, three of Brian's students have been contacted personally by college deans of admissions to tell them that they were admitted primarily based on the college application essays they wrote in his class. Brian uses innovative methods that enrich students' learning experiences. His students have written Civil War diaries and historical novellas, participated in debates, staged a musical based on a classic novel, and designed a computer video game combining American history and literature. Before school, Brian teaches in Redmond High's Safety Net writing program, helping struggling students complete the essays that are required for graduation; out of 120 students in the program this year, all but one completed their requirements. His efforts with Running Start students working to complete their state-required Culminating Projects also have produced impressive results, with all of the participants achieving success. In addition to teaching, Brian works as a Teacher on Special Assignment, designing curriculum and assessment rubrics for the school's new reading and writing graduation requirements, and training teachers in the new curriculum. In the words of associate principal Lloyd Higgins, Brian is "tremendously gifted"-a teacher whose enthusiasm for teaching is infectious.
Rojean Garnica, literacy, grades K-6, Mountlake Terrace Elementary, Edmonds School District
Rojean Garnica has created a special kind of classroom environment in which students' varying learning styles are honored, and where they feel safe to take risks and try new strategies. Rojean helps her students learn in the way that works best for them-from incorporating marching into a lesson for the child who loves to move, to including art in alphabet learning for the student who loves art. Believing that parents, caregivers and other caring adults have a key role to play in children's readiness to learn and their progression in learning, Rojean offers workshops, reading-game nights and individual conferences to help adults develop simple ways of fostering student success. She often makes changes in her own work schedule to meet students' and parents' needs by arranging after-school sessions. She works to actively engage volunteers from the community-including retirees, community college students and English-language learners-in school activities that enrich the lives of both the students and volunteers. Rojean regularly goes beyond the call of duty for her students and her colleagues. She teaches tap-dancing to a large group of primary students during her lunch breaks, and has contributed her time to help the husband of a co-worker re-learn reading following a stroke. She has served on many district committees and has been a valuable resource to numerous colleagues, including fellow teacher Beth DeForest, who says, "Her open mind and encouraging attitude are both things that I look to for inspiration as a teacher, parent and human being."
Pamela Garrett, children's librarian, grades K-4, Whitson Elementary, White Salmon Valley
The comment "I have the best job in the school" illustrates just how much enthusiasm Pam Garrett has for her work. Since she started her job 16 years ago, Pam has significantly expanded the number of titles in the library's collection and has created many special learning opportunities for students. The library's young patrons benefit not just from its books and magazines, but also from a program Pam has developed to encourage "hands-on" exploration of the world and the community, with a focus on multiculturalism. One week, for instance, she read Australian folktales to the students; the following week, they reinforced what they had learned by doing a folk-art project, playing didgeridoo music and dancing Aborigine-style. Pam also has developed special activities around themes such as Chinese New Year, African American History Month, Women's History Month, and even "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (featuring a visit from a "real" pirate). Because the population is 25 percent Hispanic, she also has created activities related to holidays, events and famous people associated with Latino culture. Pam developed the school's American Girls reading program for fourth-grade girls, involving participants in reading, writing journals, creating historical dolls and doing colonial crafts, and culminating in a formal tea party celebrating their accomplishments. She further encourages a love of reading by scheduling an annual visit by a well-known author or illustrator, creating an experience that everyone agrees is a highlight of the year.
Meg Mahoney, dance, grades K-5, Wing Luke Elementary, Seattle School District
Dance has the power to touch all students in meaningful ways, helping them build a sense of self-assurance and develop an understanding of themselves as individuals and as cultural beings. Dance students experience community, diversity and collaboration; they are drawn into the creative process of transforming idea into form and feeling into motion. Meg Mahoney teaches dance in the public schools because she believes that "every child deserves to be so engaged." Beginning at the kindergarten level, Meg's students learn how to collaborate, share ideas, lead, follow and problem-solve together. At all grade levels, classroom curriculum serves as the inspiration for dances, reinforcing students' learning. Meg believes strongly in learning about the world through the arts, so at every grade level, students are exposed to world dances; as they advance, they explore the different reasons that people dance and learn to appreciate dance as an expression of cultural diversity. "Meg's curriculum," says Wing Luke principal Ellen Punyon, "is not infused with multicultural activities; it is multicultural. In addition to teaching, Meg coordinates all of the school's art-related field trips and assemblies. She worked with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to help create dance standards and assessments, teaches dance to teachers at workshops held around the state, and even offers before-school Pilates sessions to Wing Luke staff two mornings a week.
Susan Moberg, culinary arts, grades 10-12, Moses Lake High School, Moses Lake School District
"She opened up for me a world I had never imagined." That's how Nathan Jacobs describes the impact that his teacher, Susan Moberg, has had on his life. Five years ago, Susan revolutionized the home economics program at Moses Lake High School by introducing a career-oriented curriculum called ProStart, created by the National Restaurant Association to introduce high school students to the world of hospitality and culinary arts. Susan's ProStart students come from all walks of life and all economic backgrounds, and they differ in their interests and levels of academic achievement. But in her classes, all of Susan's students learn about teamwork and experience the joy of mastering new skills. Susan ensures that her students have abundant opportunities to apply those skills in meaningful ways. Each week, her classes prepare packaged gourmet meals to sell to staff, tackling responsibilities ranging from preparing a menu to costing out food to delivering the meals. Meanwhile, the student-run espresso business that she started teaches participants how to run a business, provide great customer service and work under pressure. A typical school day for Susan starts around 6:45 a.m. and ends around 5:30 p.m. or later. But Susan knows the long days are worth it: "I get to work every day with students who are excited about learning!"
Elizabeth Sirjani, mathematics, grades 10-12, Eastlake High School, Lake Washington School District
Eastlake High School principal Rondel Hardie praises Elizabeth Sirjani as "one of the most student-centered teachers" he has ever worked with. Elizabeth is dedicated to helping her students discover the power of mathematics. She sees the learning process as a journey that she and her students take together, as partners. Her students achieve success through a variety of activities carried out in a safe, positive environment. In Elizabeth's classroom, students have many opportunities to get the help they need and to build self-confidence. They learn not just the "how" but also the "why" of mathematics. The success of Elizabeth's approach is evidenced in the notes she receives from seniors at year's end, telling her about the impact she's had on their lives and that she has made math come alive for them. Her commitment to students doesn't end at the close of the teaching day. Elizabeth has started a Math Team-now a chapter of the Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society-and also serves as an advisor to the school's Robotics Team. As chair of the Math Department, she mentors new teachers, promotes collaboration among colleagues, and models methods of instruction. Whether she's helping algebra students hone their problem-solving skills or working to help the Robotics Team obtain extra funding, Elizabeth shares her love of math in many ways, every day.
Bettina Stanley, French, grades 9-12, Wilson High School, Tacoma Public Schools #10
Bettina Stanley enriches her teaching of the French language with personalized lessons that make the subject come alive. As part of her innovative approach, Bettina makes videotapes during trips to France in which she speaks to her students as if they were there with her; during a videotaped visit to Monet's gardens, she might suggest a sketching opportunity to an artistic student, or she might address the snowboarders in her class while sharing a view of Mont Blanc. Bettina nurtures enthusiasm for the language and culture in a variety of creative ways-from setting up a mock café where students practice using their French-language skills, to holding a Celtic Fest celebrating the Celtic heritage of Brittany. Last year, Bettina adopted a new way of getting to know her students while fostering their learning of French-engaging them in a conversation cycle in which she and the students exchanged notes on topics of the students' choosing. The students revealed how much the process meant to them at year's end, when they gave Bettina their e-mail addresses so that the conversations could continue over the summer. Each year, Bettina gives her students a special experience by taking them to the Greater Seattle French Immersion Camp, where they join students from 15 other schools for a weekend of sharing and fun, all in French. She donates and raises money for any student who can't afford the cost of the camp. Many of Bettina's former students have gone on to study French in college, and several are studying or working in France. Student Andrew Bloom credits Bettina with "creating a rich environment that helps breed successful students."
PROGRAMS
Waskowitz Environmental Leadership & Service Programs, grades 9-12, Highline School District — Timothy Wood, Program Director
Tim Wood was originally hired by Highline School District to start a summer adventure-based education program for disenfranchised youth. Since then, he has created year-round experiential learning programs that have transformed the lives of many students throughout the greater Seattle area. Through the full-time Environmental Leadership Semester program, high school students develop leadership skills and learn how to mentor elementary school students in learning about the environment—producing a win-win situation for all of the students, as well as for the larger community and the environment. The full-time Community Service and Work Training Program emphasizes outdoor challenge, academic study, the exploration of career options, and extensive work on environmental service projects in the community. In these programs, choice, self-discovery and responsibility become the ingredients for a dynamic and meaningful learning experience with lifelong significance. Students enrolled in the programs become excited about learning, because each school day brings something different—whether it's performing a play about the dynamics of forest ecology in an elementary school, building a nature trail in the woods, collecting research data on water quality, or typing an essay in a school computer lab. Says Roberta McFarland, director and principal of the Waskowitz Outdoor School, "Mr. Wood's creativity in providing a quality experiential educational community for his high school students is unparalleled."
Construction Academy, grades 11-12, Bothell High School, Northshore School District-Calvin Pygott, instructor
Implemented by instructor Cal Pygott, the Construction Academy at Bothell High School has moved the school's Technology Education Department away from the traditional "shop" program and into the 21st century. The Academy takes students through the first year of a four-year carpentry apprenticeship, with graduates earning a national certification as first-year apprentices. Open to all high school juniors and seniors in the Northshore School District as well as to students from other Eastside school districts, the two-period-per-day program teaches students skills ranging from safety, construction math and blueprint-reading to how to get a job and how to behave in a real-world work environment. Through partnerships he has developed with construction-industry organizations and companies, Cal is able to provide his classes with equipment, field trips to job sites and internships. A key element of the program's success is a paid-internship program in which students spend the last 12 weeks of the school year working on commercial job sites. The fact that approximately 80 percent of the Academy's graduates are still in the construction industry is a testament to the program's success. As a result of Cal's efforts at the state level, the Construction Academy curriculum has been adopted as the framework for high school carpentry classes statewide. By 2012, the United States will need a million new workers in all fields of construction. With construction workers averaging 49 years of age and apprentices averaging 28 years, the Construction Academy offers a running start at a rewarding career with unlimited opportunity.
Stanley O. McNaughton Golden Apple Award
Cuauhtemoc Escobedo, band/jazz, grades 6-8, Eckstein Middle School, Seattle School District
In his role as Eckstein Middle School's director of bands, Cuauhtemoc Escobedo serves hundreds of students. The music program has expanded significantly during his tenure, and today more than half of the school's students participate. Every student who wants to be part of the program is able to do so; no student is turned away for "not being good enough." During his tenure at Eckstein, "Mr. E." has built a music program with a national reputation. His students feed into several public high schools in Seattle, and two of those schools have frequently earned invitations to participate in the most prestigious school jazz competition in the world-the Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival in New York. Beyond teaching music skills, Mr E. fosters a sense of teamwork, discipline and responsibility in his students. He challenges them to meet high standards, and helps them do so, with respect, humor and gentle encouragement. Believing that an educator should find the method that best suits each student, he strives to give each child a chance to shine. On top of a full teaching load, Mr. E. spends countless hours "off the clock," traveling with his students to local and national performances and competitions, delivering music to students in the summer, and attending performances by former students. His passion, dedication and energy bring out the best in his students. Says parent Carl Christofferson, "Mr. Escobedo is definitely one of the unsung talents who have put Seattle on the map nationally for music education!"
The KCTS Golden Apple Awards are sponsored by KCTS Television and are made possible through funding from PEMCO Insurance.
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