We are so proud to announce recipients of the 2013 Daviess County Public Schools Great Expectations Teachers of the Year!

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1 We are so proud to announce recipients of the 2013 Daviess County Public Schools Great Expectations Teachers of the Year! Each DCPS school nominated and selected a Teacher of the Year. These individuals (listed below) are now eligible for the DCPS Great Expectations Teaching Excellence Award. That winner will be announced at Opening Day Monday, Aug. 5, at the Owensboro Sportscenter (Student entertainment begins at 7:30 a.m., program at 8 a.m.) The DCPS Teachers of the Year were recognized for their unique teaching qualities and innovative practices that support quality teaching and learning in their classrooms. These outstanding educators model and support Great Expectations for all students, every day! Audubon Elementary School Abby Flake Abby Flake was nominated by a parent of a child in her classroom, who said: She consistently provides a safe learning environment with clear boundaries so that each and every student can learn. She believes in each of her students and they know she believes in them. She teaches reading and math while also developing personal skills so they will grow to be fine people. Ms. Flake said, I strive to make sure all children know they are special in their own unique ways, and they can reach any goal or dream they have set for themselves by working hard and always saying I can, not I can t. I also try to instill in them the love of learning, and making sure they know that each of them can become someone great in life as long as they work hard and always give 110 percent toward whatever they are trying to accomplish.

2 Burns Elementary School Debra Lanham Debra Lanham s nomination recognizes her many unique teaching qualities. She displays such passion for her students learning and well-being. She is an expert in her field and strives to learn more. Ms. Lanham displays high expectations for all students and is sensitive to the different maturities of each student. She doesn t accept good enough as good enough! She encourages students to strive to be their best. Ms. Lanham said her greatest reward as an educator is witnessing students take their next step in the learning process. Seeing student success is always a joy! I strive to make a difference in the lives of students by setting high expectations, building positive relationships and providing relevant learning opportunities to promote student growth for each student, every day. Country Heights Elementary School Sue Ann Devine Sue Ann Devine said, Being an educator has many rewards, but the greatest reward is knowing you have impacted someone s life for the better and they in turn have done the same for you. One of the greatest expectations a teacher can hope for her students is the ability to feel empowered enough to make a real difference in the world. As an educator, my main goal is to develop positive relationships with my students. Ms. Devine s nomination recognized her gift in developing leadership skills in her students and her passion for teaching.

3 Deer Park Elementary School Heidi Dees Heidi Dees said, I have the best job in the world because I help shape attitudes! Creating caring, respectful, independent students is my goal every day. I expect my students to become engaged in their learning on a daily basis no excuses and no exceptions. I love watching my students beam with pride when they have mastered a new concept or attained a goal. The look on their faces as their classmates give them applause is priceless! East View Elementary School Jo Beth Grigsby Jo Beth Grigsby believes Students can create a path toward their bright future and I will always be by their side, cheering them on. My greatest expectation for students is for them to realize that every child can learn and be successful. Ms. Grigsby individualizes her instruction for each student in her room. Students do not feel the pressure; they just want to perform and succeed. The instruction weaves life lessons along with the common core. When students leave her classroom, they are ready to tackle the world!

4 Highland Elementary School Pam Howell Pam Howell s nomination recognized her as the heart and soul of the Highland Elementary School arts program. Great Expectations is really about every child! All children deserve an education filled with wonder, opportunity and purpose. All means ALL to Ms. Howell. Her patience with students is evident and her expectations are high. The music door is open to all! Ms. Howell said, I hope my students have an appreciation for the arts and are not just consumers of music, but rather will support, value and participate in the arts in their communities. Meadow Lands Elementary School Amy Bouchard Amy Bouchard models and supports Great Expectations not only for all students, but for staff as well. She continually displays professionalism and a positive outlook at all times, according to her nomination. She not only demonstrates high expectations for every learner, but exhibits the qualities and the beliefs it takes to help ALL children reach those expectations. I try to provide my students with a safe place where it is okay to take risks and try new things, Ms. Bouchard said. I want my students to feel comfortable exercising, playing and having fun. I want them to feel accepted for who they are. Physical education is for everyone, no matter what their natural ability is. I strive to make a difference by empowering my students with the knowledge to be healthy physically, emotionally and academically.

5 Sorgho Elementary School Sandra Tichenor Sandra Tichenor said one of her greatest rewards is inspiring the spark in a child s passion for learning. When they find their confidence and eagerness to learn, I am fortunate to witness their discoveries, she said. Just seeing the kids take ownership of their work and utilizing their talents and efforts to exceed their goals is something every teacher aspires to achieve in education. I want to guide all my students to achieve success and feel like they are worth more than they could ever imagine. Her nominators noted that Ms. Tichenor is committed to her students success. She puts in countless hours preparing for various activities that foster learning. She is a great role model for every person in the building staff, parents and students! Southern Oaks Elementary School Therese Vali Therese Vali uses every moment as a teaching moment, according to her nomination. Although her students have many physical and mental limitations, she holds the same expectations for her class as any other teacher. She is always challenging her students to achieve their best. She challenges them because she loves them and wants to see them succeed. My expectations for students are that regardless of the disability, each child can learn and be successful and productive in our society. Each child has a unique talent. The more opportunities and experiences I provide my students, the more opportunities each of them will have to find the area where they will succeed!

6 Tamarack Elementary School Donna Howard Donna Howard loves those aha moments when a child finally realizes he understands a concept or has the confidence to accomplish a personal goal. The eyes sparkle and the smile shines at that moment! My greatest expectation for my students is to enjoy coming to school each and every day. I strive to enrich my students with a learning experience they will recall long after they leave my room. I want them to become lifelong, self-motivated learners! Her nomination noted that Ms. Howard is an outstanding teacher, not only for students, but other teachers as well. West Louisville Elementary School Cecilia Millay Cecilia Millay says her great expectation is for students to become responsible, respectful and successful. I maintain high expectations for all students, but the expectations differ for each individual, as they each have their own needs. My hope is for each child to grow academically, socially and emotionally. According to a parent testimony, Mrs. Millay takes her time with each child to make sure they feel welcomed and comfortable at school. I really appreciate the extra attention she pays to the students and their needs both academically and social.

7 Whitesville Elementary School Beth Creech Beth Creech cherishes the anticipation children bring to her classroom each year. I strive to keep them eager to learn new content with fun, hands-on activities, which can be applied to the real world. It is my belief that holding high expectations for all students will help them soar to their greatest potential and succeed with confidence. Her nominator said, Beth is one of those teachersre who touch the lives of ALL children she teaches, and the effects of her dedication and commitment to each child are life-changing and long-lasting. Her compassion and love for her students build a bond where learning will take place because of the relationship she shares with her students. Burns Middle School Melissa Shoulta Melissa Shoulta was born to teach. That s the opening statement in her nomination as BMS Teacher of the Year. The nomination goes on to note Ms. Shoulta s desire to educate young people and serve as a positive role model; her ability to work with students with diverse backgrounds and levels of ability; her enthusiasm about the subjects she teaches; and her interest in helping ALL students learn. Ms. Shoulta said her greatest reward as an educator is seeing the joy on my students faces as they achieve the goals they have set for themselves. My hope is to develop trusting, positive relationships with my students that will last beyond the 10 months they are in my classroom.

8 College View Middle School Mendy Rue Mendy Rue s great expectations for students begin with high-level thinking in her classroom. I expect nothing but the best for ALL my students, she said. Throughout my years of teaching, I have realized that all students do not learn in the same way. I try to provide many different avenues of learning so all students will feel successful in some aspect. I try to incorporate many real-world scenarios so the students can be better citizens of the world. Ms. Rue s nomination noted her creativity with instruction. She constantly looks for new ways to engage kids in learning. Daviess County Middle School Sara Appleby Sara Appleby establishes great expectations in her classroom, where students search for a way to improve their attitudes, gain knowledge, foster a passion and grow with integrity. She models these great expectatations and has committed herself to ensuring that her students see her as a teacher who loves every minute of her job. Her classroom is a place where both the teacher and her students expect one another to be better people today than they were yesterday. I want each student to feel connected to our class and want to walk through the door each day, she said. By making this connection, I want my students to know there is always someone behind them cheering them on.

9 Apollo High School Karen Austin Karen Austin described her great expectations for students as the moment when they are able to apply what they learn in my class to other subjects and the real world. Even though learning specific concepts is important, they need to be able to solve different types of problems they will encounter, using the skills they have acquired. Ms. Austin was nominated by a student who recognized this educator for her commitment to students and their learning. She is a kind, inspirational person, the student wrote. She is a teacher who is really focused on the education of her students and living a life that anyone could be inspired by. The student also noted that Ms. Austin models her expectations for students with her own efficiency and organization skills as a teacher. Beacon Central High School Michelle Ruckdeschel Michelle Ruckdeschel finds her greatest reward in seeing students experience success at a level they have never seen before. She models this through her dedication to teaching, trying to teaching the students differently than they may have been taught before. I want to continue to learn and hone my skills so I can deliver the best possible instruction to my students. Her nominations include the observations that Many students comment how they wish they had Ms. Ruckdeschel as a math teacher sooner. She is resourceful, energetic and creative, and is dedicated to making learning more meaningful for students.

10 Daviess County High School Steve Goodrid Steve Goodrid brings history to life in his classroom, where his greatest reward is the moment when students recognize the relevance of what they are learning. I believe students need to value the sacrifices that have been made so we can enjoy the rights of American citizenship, he said. It is such a joy when students get it, become interested, and have intelligent historical conversations with me. His nominator noted Mr. Goodrid s passion for history, teaching and students. Mr. Goodrid definitely walks the talk in his classroom, his colleague noted. If he asks his students to read a passage and answer the qusetions, it is only because he spent the previous evening, after a long day of school, in his classroom reading and answering those very questions himself. Owensboro Treatment Center / Owensboro Day Treatment Angela Austin Angela Austin sets the bar high in her classroom, noting that students will rise to meet the great expectations set forth by the teacher. My job is to equip them with the tools to succeed in school and life, she said. Every child deserves a great education, regardless of his or her background or circumstances. As a teacher at Owensboro Treatment Center, Ms. Austin is excited about her opportunities to empower and educate students who need a second chance. I didn t expect that my students would give me a second chance at my career, she admitted. They have breathed new life and inspiration in me to be the best teacher I can be.

11 Valley School Faith Young Faith Young always finds a way to help her students learn, challenging them with small steps until their confidence improves and they believe they are capable of success, she said. Her goals are to see every student mature emotionally, socially and intellectually; embrace challenges, accept responsibility, apply goal-setting; develop the array of skills fundamental to healthy, dynamic, productive citizens and become the truly amazing individuals they are capable of becoming. Ms. Young s nominators noted that she meets each of her students where they are and develops a plan that moves them forward. She makes education meaningful for each individual student. She exhibits excitement for what her students are learning, as well as what she is learning. Thank you, DCPS Teachers of the Year!