Treat Your Teacher for Back-to-School Month! "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." - Albert Einstein Update: Announcing the 2021 Winners! We are so pleased to announce our deserving winners of this year's Treat Your Teacher bundles. Congratulations to these three amazing educators! Jennie Merrill Mrs. Merrill was determined that even though her kids were to be taught virtual for more than half the year they weren’t going to miss out on anything. She would go outside and video her science experiments and made sure every child had what they needed for the experiment even if it meant buying it herself and arranging for parents to pick it up. When you wanted to read a certain book she set up a link that parents could buy the book and if they could they could buy one for a child who couldn’t afford it and in one hour every child had a brand new book of their own coming to their house. On holidays when they would have their class party she made all their party bags and delivered to each child so the next day they had their virtual party. She spent hours learning different video programs so she could take pictures of her kids pets or stuffed animals and turn them into talking announcements and the kids couldn’t wait to go to virtual class each day to see whose pet was the next announcement. This was so popular she also did it a couple times a week for the whole school. This is only a few things that Mrs. Merrill did to make sure her kids were excited to go to school even if it was virtual and they were excited to learn. Erica Browitt In the 2020-2021 school year, Erica was assigned a class of Senior English. She immediately recognized that these students not only didn't 'love to read', they also aggressively pushed back at the idea that they would learn to love the written word. Erica transformed her class using a variety of methods, allowing students choice in the medium they used in accessing literature - graphic novels, videos. She also encouraged them to recognize the value of good writing by using resumes and job applications as a window they could truly appreciate. I have been an ELA teacher for over thirty years and have had many of the students Erica encountered in her Senior English class. Her love and passion for excellence in reading and writing made even the most reluctant student recognize their own potential. While those students may not tell you that they 'love' Shakespeare after this class, their thinking and writing abilities have certainly grown due to this exposure. Erica is a true gift to the children in our community. Shirlene Hryhorchuk Mrs. Hryhorchuk came to work here at Deweyville in 1965. Yes, you read that correctly. She has been a teacher here for 56 years. She has taught English 6-12 as well as home economics. She also is the cafeteria manager for the district. Baseball uniforms need alterations? Mrs. Hryhorchuk. Meals for virtual students? Mrs. Hryhorchuk. Work program in the cafeteria for special needs students? Mrs. Hryhorchuk. She has seen segregation, integration, high stakes testing, and now teaching during a pandemic. She is still here because she loves kids. We are the Pirates and she is affectionately known as the Captain of our ship. Thanks to all who nominated the hard-working teachers in their lives! Remember to share your words of gratitude directly to them today and let them know how appreciated they are. ----------------------------- Teachers everywhere are preparing for a new school year, ready to face whatever challenges are ahead with flexibility, creativity, and determination. Help us honor those who devote thdemselves to helping others! Please join us in celebrating National Back-to-School Month and the amazing people who make it all happen by nominating an exceptional teacher in your life who deserves some recognition. Three selected nominees will happily receive your words of gratitude and over $250 of Storiarts products! Just fill out the form below to nominate your teacher today. Nominations will be accepted for all types of teachers: professors, private tutors, music instructors, coaches, you name it. If they lead your learning, then they're eligible! Don't delay! Nominations close August 31. Winners will be notified via email on September 3 and announced here on our blog. Each of three deserving winners will receive a Commit to Lit bundle (valued at over $250!) which includes a Commit to Lit Sherpa Fleece Book Blanket, Commit to Lit Book Tote, Commit to Lit Book Pouch, and a Leather Quote Coasters Set, Leather Quote Bookmark, and bag of Booklover's Brew of choice. Tell us about your teacher below!
