The Point Pleasant Borough School District is pleased to announce their participation in the 2013 Ocean County Teacher Recognition Program, an annual program that honors exceptional teachers and educational services professionals from each of the district’s four schools.
Nominations for this year’s program are now being sought from school district staff and the Point Pleasant Borough community.
The Criteria for Selection of Teachers is as follows:
- Use of creativity and innovation in the classroom;
- An ability to increase student achievement through a learning-focused environment;
- Contributing to the professional growth of colleagues;
- Encouraging community service and service learning opportunities as a means of enriching academic learning; and,
- Effective use of technology to advance learning.
The Criteria for Selection of Educational Services Professionals is as follows:
- Positive interactions with students, staff, and parents while functioning as frontline advocate for the student between home and school;
- Fostering an appropriate environment for learning and exploring creative alternatives to enable all students to achieve to their fullest potential;
- Supporting classroom instruction by addressing the educational, social and emotional needs of all students; and,
- Personal interactions with students that demonstrate professionalism while retaining respect, humor, compassion and concern for the whole child.
In addition, in alignment with the Department of Education’s Strategic Plan, the following criteria should be considered:
- Use of creativity, innovation and efficiency in the classroom;
- Ability to increase student achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards through a learning-focused environment;
- Ability to contribute to the quality of the professional development in their district; and;
- Ability to utilize educational technology in an effective and efficient manner.
Members of the Point Pleasant Borough community who would like to nominate a teacher or educational services professional for consideration should send a letter naming the teacher nominated and reasons for nomination reflecting the above criteria by January 23, 2013 to:
Robert Alfonse
Director of Curriculum and Instruction K-12
Point Pleasant Schools
2100 Panther Path
Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
Nominations will be reviewed and selections determined by a committee of community representatives and staff members.
“As the engineers of successful student outcomes, education professionals play a vital role in the development of a strong, well-educated society,” said Superintendent of Schools Vincent S. Smith. “It is essential that we, as a society, recognize and applaud their contributions, demonstrating our gratitude for their hard work and dedication to the education of our youth.”
“The Ocean County Teacher Recognition Program provides an excellent opportunity for school systems and their communities to honor exemplary education professionals,” he said. “I strongly encourage anyone who has been positively affected by an exceptional Point Pleasant Borough teacher or educational services professional to express their appreciation and nominate that person.”
“With so many outstanding educators in our district, the challenge will be selecting just one nominee from what is sure to be an extremely competitive pool,” added Smith.
Nominations can include various types of staff members including:
* Educational Services Professionals: Associate Educational Media Specialist; Athletic Trainer; Coordinator: Apprentice Programs; Coordinator: Cooperative Industrial Education Programs; Director of Student Personnel Services; Educational Media Specialist; Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant; Professional Librarian; Reading Specialist; School Nurse; School Occupational Therapist; School Physical Therapist; School Psychologist; School Social Worker; Speech-Language Specialist; Student Personnel Services; Substance Awareness Coordinator; Teacher-Coordinator, Cooperative Vocational-Technical Education Programs.
To find out more about the Point Pleasant School District, visit the district website at www.pointpleasant.k12.nj.us.
Here's what she wrote... "After reading some recent scathing comments about teachers, I feel I have to write here what I do as a teacher to give a little credit to people who have chosen this career. I know that all teachers are different, but I will say the ones I know spend their days just like I do..." Continued below...
I must know all of my learners. I must know every one of my twenty-something students in each class. I must follow nineteen IEP’s and know the modifications to make for every one of them. I must remember that seven of my students need preferential seating and eleven of my students need modified tests and two of my students have anxiety disorders and four of my students need notes printed out for them and eight of my students have no support at home. I must prepare my students to pass the NJASK but “not teach to the test” but “be sure to do test prep.” I must get 65 students with completely varying abilities to all improve their reading and writing skills." Continued below...
Even when I’m not actively doing school work, I’m thinking about it. I’m worrying about whether or not John will finish typing his essay or whether Shannon understands helping and main verbs or if Dana’s home situation will get better or what I can do to improve my lesson on symbolism. What I can do improve every lesson. My every day is consumed with being a teacher. Summers off, you argue? Sure, we have summers off. Summers that most of the teachers I know spend working at other jobs. Jobs that pay for the, on average, $500 teachers spend on school supplies out of their own pockets each year. I’m not writing this to claim that teachers have it rough or do any more work than anyone else. I love everything about being a teacher. I’m writing this to show that we do work hard though. And that, no matter what anyone, we do care immensely about our students."