Congratulations to this year's Teacher of the Year and Teach like a Champion Honorees!
Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops. – Henry Brooks Adams
Congratulations to our 2020 Teacher of the Year Amanda Phillips (left), and Teach Like a Champion Honorees, Stout Field Elementary School's Gretchen McIntyre, and Lynhurst 7th and 8th Grade Center's Clare Trumble.
Meet Amanda Phillips, 2020 Teacher of the Year
Pre-School Teacher, Indiana School for the Deaf
As an early learning educator, Amanda Phillips has the typical challenges and triumphs of any pre-school teacher; however, she also has the added challenge of being many of her students’ first introduction to language and the ability to communicate. Most of these students come from non-signing homes and before Ms. Phillips’ class have never had the opportunity to express themselves effectively.
Amanda’s class is full of joy, color, and love. She strives both inside and outside the classroom to help her students feel valued, understood, and to overcome any challenges they encounter. She makes herself available to families to help students handle communication crises, no matter what time of day or year. Using materials found at Teachers’ Treasures, she creates beautiful visuals for her students to learn from, including . With her preschoolers’ and fellow teachers’ help, Amanda has created a series of informative youtube videos all about different signs in ASL. Find Amanda after the presentation and she’d love to tell you all about them and how you can learn ASL, too.
It takes a brave soul to teach pre-schoolers, but it also takes a huge heart. Tonight, Amanda is here because she is a living example to her students that they can overcome any challenge, and that love for one’s students can be understood in any language.
Amanda’s class is full of joy, color, and love. She strives both inside and outside the classroom to help her students feel valued, understood, and to overcome any challenges they encounter. She makes herself available to families to help students handle communication crises, no matter what time of day or year. Using materials found at Teachers’ Treasures, she creates beautiful visuals for her students to learn from, including . With her preschoolers’ and fellow teachers’ help, Amanda has created a series of informative youtube videos all about different signs in ASL. Find Amanda after the presentation and she’d love to tell you all about them and how you can learn ASL, too.
It takes a brave soul to teach pre-schoolers, but it also takes a huge heart. Tonight, Amanda is here because she is a living example to her students that they can overcome any challenge, and that love for one’s students can be understood in any language.
Meet Clare Trumble, Teach like a Champ Honoree
Lynhurst 7th and 8th Grade Center, 7th and 8th Grade Language Arts
Clare didn’t know her path in life would lead her to teaching. While juggling a family and a real estate career, she one day found herself substituting a classroom at her children’s school. That substitute position led to a 20-year teaching career that has been as equally rewarding to herself as it has been to her 7th and 8th grade language arts students.
She always has time to meet or have lunch with a student who needs extra help, an ear to listen, or a shoulder to lean on. It is no wonder that this teacher is dubbed the “mom” of her school. Students living nearby know that she will be in the building early in the morning, late at night, and even on weekends. They know that they can depend on her for whatever they need, whether it be food, clothing, a pencil, or just to be someone who cares.
When asked what motivates her each day our honoree told us, “Well, I just look for whatever need a student has and try to meet it. ”
She always has time to meet or have lunch with a student who needs extra help, an ear to listen, or a shoulder to lean on. It is no wonder that this teacher is dubbed the “mom” of her school. Students living nearby know that she will be in the building early in the morning, late at night, and even on weekends. They know that they can depend on her for whatever they need, whether it be food, clothing, a pencil, or just to be someone who cares.
When asked what motivates her each day our honoree told us, “Well, I just look for whatever need a student has and try to meet it. ”
Meet Gretchen McIntyre, Teach like a Champ Honoree
Stout Field Elementary 6th Grade Teacher
This teacher’s driving goal is to have each one of her 100 6th grade children learn that there is a world beyond the poverty in which most of them live. Whether by helping those students find internship experiences, placing her students in a program where they write letters to professional women basketball players in order to build relationships with strong role models, or helping other teachers adapt to new teaching programs, this honoree is always striving to help her students grown, learn, and feel valued.
When asked if she had one dream that could come true in her journey as a teacher she wished she could see into the future of each of her students and see that they have conquered their struggles and are having an amazing life.
It’s no surprise that this Stout Field Elementary School teacher’s peers felt that she deserved celebration for her kindness, initiative, and passion.
When asked if she had one dream that could come true in her journey as a teacher she wished she could see into the future of each of her students and see that they have conquered their struggles and are having an amazing life.
It’s no surprise that this Stout Field Elementary School teacher’s peers felt that she deserved celebration for her kindness, initiative, and passion.
Check back next year to learn how you can nominate your favorite teachers!
It is the intent of ACE to recognize teachers who serve in transformational ways – ways that demonstrate change in an individual, group, class, or school – and exemplify honor to the profession.
Up to three teachers will be selected and presented with a cash award as well as partial scholarships provided by the American College of Education.
In addition to teachers who have demonstrated service in transformational ways, the ideal nominees are teachers who have displayed the following:
Nominations can be made by a teacher, group of teachers, or administrator.
All nominees must be a registered licensed teacher who is a current and active shopper at Teachers' Treasures.
It is the intent of ACE to recognize teachers who serve in transformational ways – ways that demonstrate change in an individual, group, class, or school – and exemplify honor to the profession.
Up to three teachers will be selected and presented with a cash award as well as partial scholarships provided by the American College of Education.
In addition to teachers who have demonstrated service in transformational ways, the ideal nominees are teachers who have displayed the following:
- Innovation in the classroom to engage student(s) and/or approaching a learning issue/challenge
- Creativity in utilizing the materials provided by Teachers’ Treasures
- Caring/Compassion that has made a meaningful and impactful difference in the lives of the student(s) in his/her class and/or school
- Diversity/Inclusion is celebrated, supported and encouraged in the nominee's classroom and/or school:
Nominations can be made by a teacher, group of teachers, or administrator.
All nominees must be a registered licensed teacher who is a current and active shopper at Teachers' Treasures.