Gwinnett’s top teacher to be announced

Six veteran educators are competing for the honor of being named Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

The title comes with perks - bragging rights, an annual $1,000 contact bonus and a convertible to drive for about a year.

The winner will be announced at the annual awards banquet Gwinnett Center at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Here’s a look at some of the contenders:

Jodi Sanchez, Bethesda Elementary

Age: 34

Marital Status: Married for four years

Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Eastern Illinois University

Hobbies: I love walking, working out, reading, and having dinner with friends.

Favorite teacher featured on a television show or a film: Edward James Olmos in “Stand and Deliver.” I love his role because he doesn’t give up and actually pushes his students to excel when no one else believed they could even themselves. It is a powerful display of one person making a difference in several people’s lives.

One thing most people don’t know about me: I was a cheerleader in junior high and high school.

If I could change one thing about education in Georgia I would: Continue to increase teacher training in areas of mathematics and science. Math and science instruction should be focused on inquiry-based methods where students problem-solve real-life situations and develop a greater understanding of math and science concepts and processes.

Why did I become a teacher: Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to become a teacher. I recall pleasant memories of playing school with my neighborhood friends. It wasn’t until after graduating high school, I was able to make my dream a reality. The summer before college I became a camp counselor for the park district in my town. I loved working with children. I knew then that choosing teaching as my profession was exactly what I wanted to do in my life.

Most challenging thing about my job: The continual challenge of differentiated instruction in an ever-growing community of diverse learners has motivated teachers such as myself to seek out research-based strategies to meet the needs of each and every student.

Most rewarding thing about my job: Children! I love their reactions to learning new material! One of my favorite quotes after observing how real live earthworms help the earth, one student told me, “Wow, you helped me overcome my fear of worms today!”

Sue Tavernier, Mulberry Elementary

Age: 52

Marital Status: Married for 20 years; has two daughters and a stepson

Education: Specialist in Early Childhood Education from Brenau University

Hobbies: Spending time with my family, traveling, attending GA Tech football games, reading, and exercising

Favorite teacher featured on a television show or a film: Erin Gruwell from “Freedom Writers.”

One thing most people don’t know about me: I always wanted to learn how to paint. I have painted as a hobby,

If I could change one thing about education in Georgia, I would: Inspire teachers across the state to collaborate together to bring change in every school, thus raising the rating for our state in the nation’s opinion of Georgia schools.

Why did I become a teacher: I come from a long line of teachers in my family. I have always believed it was my calling to help children develop a love for learning. I struggled with reading as a young child, and I know the impact it had on my self-esteem. Knowing that making your weakness your strength drove me to become an avid reader of research in the area of literacy.

Most challenging thing about my job: Not enough time in the day to accomplish all that I want.

Most rewarding thing about my job: Watching the excitement on a child’s face when they break the code and are able to read and write.

Aimée Burgamy,Trickum Middle

Age: 37

Marital Status: Married for 11 years to Richard Blake.

Education: B.A. University of Mississippi (1993), M.A. University of Alabama (2000), Ph.D. (a.b.d.-all but dissertation) University of Georgia [current].

Hobbies: Photography, print making, drawing and painting. I sail; I have an O’day Sprite named “mon ami.” I used to take Fencing lessons.

Favorite teacher featured on a television show or a film: Eliza Jane Wilder from “Little House on the Prairie.” Based-on-a-true-story teachers like Louanne Johnson, played by Michelle Pfeiffer in “Dangerous Minds,” or Erin Gruwell, played by Hilary Swank in “Freedom Writers,” are inspiring, but these teachers left the teaching profession after less than 5 years (as do 3 out of 5 new teachers in the US today). Although “Little House” pioneer teacher Eliza Jane Wilder was fictional, she was based in reality. In a one- room school house, she taught all subjects to 30, 40, even 50 kids of all ages and abilities. Reading historical accounts of 19th century missionary teachers in Georgia’s own Appalachian Mountains puts our modern-day challenges in perspective!

One thing most people don’t know about me: My Mom is Guatemalan. Although she has lived most of her life in the United States, her father (my grandfather) came to the United States in 1945 as Guatemala’s first ambassador to the United Nations. He signed the UN charter in San Francisco and later lived in New York where he continued as ambassador for more than 20 years. On PTSA International Night at our school, I always volunteer to carry the flag of Guatemala with our Guatemalan students.

If I could change one thing about education in Georgia, I would: Advocate for “state mandated” fine arts education by arts specialists. Presently visual arts, music, drama, and dance exist in our schools but are not mandated. Many politicians will say that they support the arts in our schools but …when the economy is bad and funding cuts become necessary, the arts programs are often the first programs to go. Yet, research proves that early experience in the arts improves reasoning, and yes, test scores. We are living in a visual-technological age. To train students for jobs and technologies that do not yet exist we will need to train students to think creatively and abstractly. Art and Music are not about training artists, but about training the mind.

Why did I become a teacher: It is hard to pinpoint the moment I became an art teacher. Perhaps it was when I was 6 and went around teaching everyone from 5 to 65 how to draw a realistic cat in 5 easy steps. It is sufficient to say that from the beginning, sharing art with others was part of being an artist. By career dress-up day in high school, when I dressed in a French artist’s smock (the blue kind that the teacher wears) with an authentic Parisian beret, I had figured out that you spend much of your adult life at work. Therefore, you should do something you are good at and enjoy.

Most challenging and rewarding thing about your job: Change. As a middle school connections (specials) teacher I teach different content [A.K.S. academic knowledge and skills goals] to three grade levels—sixth, seventh, and eighth. My six classes, each with approximately 34 students, change every 9 weeks. I learn all my student’s names; that is more than 800 names (and 800 clay projects per year!) Each class includes a spectacular mix of Probe (gifted), regular kids (those without labels), English Language Learners, and Special Education Students (including students who are visually impaired, those with autism, and students with emotional and behavioral disorders). While this is a challenge it is also one of the best things about my job.

I marvel at the way my students collaborate and help one another. Time and again, my students have impressed me with their selfless and unsolicited acts of kindness towards someone that is different. Clearly, through their experiences in public school our students are gaining valuable preparation for their futures in diverse work places.

Ken Leach, Collins Hill High

Age: 47

Marital Status: 10 years happily married; has two daughters, ages 18 and 4 and a son age 6.

Education: B.S. in Biology, Appalachian State Univ.; MEd in Science Education, University of Georgia; Ed.S. In Science Education University of Georgia

Hobbies: Reef aquariums, outdoors, running

Favorite teacher featured on a television show or film: Mrs. Frizzle from the “Magic School Bus”. I connect with her because she is always teaching through inquiry, takes her students on interesting field trips and uses innovative strategies. She motivates her students by relating the topic to real-life problems. This allows the students to make that connection to why they need to know it.

One thing most people don’t know about me: When in college, I was a ski instructor.

If I could change one thing about education in Georgia, I would: Lobby for more respect for public school teachers. Teachers that I work with are true professionals and are dedicated to the success of all of their students. We do not get to decide who we teach, but we welcome every student that walks through that door and try to connect with them so they will be successful members of the community. But, in reality I feel we get the blame for poor achievement no matter what the reason.

Why did I become a teacher: It was my first career choice. I attended Appalachian State University in the mountains of North Carolina because of all the wildlife that surrounded Boone… I knew, just knew, deep down in my heart, that I could make all the “ologies” come alive for others. I became a teacher …and I never looked back.

Most challenging thing about my job: Finding the time to implement all of the ideas I have running through my mind. When you go to in-services and learn all these cool, innovative strategies it is hard to find the time to implement them all.

Most rewarding thing about my job: Seeing the look in the students’ eyes when they realize that science can be cool. It is a look of amazement and excitement.

Mike Reilly, North Gwinnett High

Age: 43

Marital Status: Married, 8 years to Lesley; has two children, a son, Noah, , and a daughter, Makenna, 2.

Education: BS in Business (St. Michael’s College) and M.Ed. (U. of Michigan)

Hobbies: Spending time with my family, cooking, learning, entrepreneurship, coaching soccer, exercise.

Favorite teacher featured on a television show or a film: Mr. Holland from “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” It was one of the few realistic depictions of a teacher, and I loved his drive.

One thing most people don’t know about me: I’m an ex-test expert, on the GMAT, LSAT, SAT and GRE.

If I could change one thing about education in Georgia, I would: Add the requirement that all students take one year of technology. It’s 7 of the top 10 jobs in the country, and we don’t require it at all.

Why did I become a teacher: It was the late 80’s, and the economy was bad. I took a job as a teacher’s assistant in a special education school because it seemed interesting. That hooked me. I did leave for a few years to do the corporate thing, but I never felt right until I returned to the classroom.

Most challenging thing about my job: A missed opportunity to help a student.

Most rewarding thing about my job: When a student says “I love this, I know what I want to do with my life.”

Todd Shultz, Phoenix High

Age: 43

Marital Status: Married 18 years; has two sons, ages 15 and 11

Education: BA History, U.C. Berkeley; MA Education, Cal State Hayward; Eds Curriculum, Piedmont College

Hobbies: Involvement in my church, weekly Domino nights with my parents, playing cards with my wife, playing and watching sports with my boys, visiting historical sites, working out

Favorite teacher featured on a television show or a film: Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) from “Stand and Deliver.” I love how he was able to take students on whom everyone else had given up and guide them to levels of learning and personal growth that far surpassed everyone’s expectations, especially those of the students themselves!

One thing most people don’t know about me: I fell off a 60 foot cliff when rock climbing in my early 20’s.

If I could change one thing about education in Georgia, I would: Increase instructional resources to parts of the state that are less fortunate

Why did I become a teacher: I began substitute teaching in the inner-city middle schools of nearby Oakland, CA, in 1989 while interviewing for other positions. To my shame, I admit that I had partially “bought into” the common perception that teaching was ,,, for those who couldn’t do more with their lives. I saw myself in a teaching position only until I could find a “real” job. My final substitute teaching assignment for that school year was for an “out of control” classroom . The class had been through countless substitutes, the most recent of whom left in the middle of the day the day before I arrived. Staff members looked at me like I was going to my own funeral when I reported to work that morning. Those next six weeks were quite an experience. Though the situation proved challenging, I found myself absolutely loving it! It was at this time that I decided that I not only wanted to be a teacher, but had to be one.

Most challenging thing about my job: Trying to teach the large amount of curriculum the history courses cover in a relatively short amount of time.

Most rewarding thing about my job: Seeing students overcome numerous challenges – My school, Phoenix High, is so named after the mythological bird that rose from its own ashes. My colleagues and I at Phoenix have been privileged to see so many of our students do just that!