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Health & Fitness

Congratulations 2012 Catonsville Outstanding Teachers

Congratulations to all of the 2012 Catonsville Outstanding Teacher Awards nominees, finalists and winners!

I recently had the honor of participating in the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Teacher Awards Selection Committee. Awards were handed out at a banquet held on May 31st. Winners received Certificates of Recognition, Citations from Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer, County Executive Kevin Kamenetz & Councilman Tom Quirk and $500 from CCBC Catonsville for use in their classrooms. Congratulations to all of the 2012 Catonsville Outstanding Teacher Awards nominees, finalists and winners.

Teams That Make a Difference Award:

WINNER: The 4th grade team of Gerry Fromm and Melissa Fosnaught from St. Mark School.

This team brings a high standard of interactive and innovative learning to their students. They are able to achieve the best with limited means and well thought out partnerships with local institutions.

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This team is a model of outstanding behavior and values for their students. They take great joy in rewarding students who commit kind acts. They teach the children personal responsibility and encourage both academic and behavioral independence through many of their lessons!

Distinguished Service Award:

Nominee: Andrea German from Catonsville High School

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WINNER: The Rotary Club of Catonsville

While many of you see the amazing works this organization does in our community, like the Bloomsbury Avenue Wall Mural, you do not see the love and support they provide to our schools every day. Since 2002, the Rotary Club of Catonsville has participated in the Dictionary Project. This is a national movement dedicated to providing each 3rd grader in America with their very own dictionary. The goal is to assist all students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers and resourceful learners.

This school year, the Rotary Club of Catonsville donated nearly 1300 dictionaries to 19 Elementary schools in the Greater Catonsville area. Each donation is accompanied with an interactive presentation to the children and teachers. Sending the message that "We support your education and we want you to succeed."

Outstanding Teacher Award - Elementary School

Nominees:

Catonsville ES: Mary McGowan (Finalist), Bridget Mohler, Jenna Shaffer

Hillcrest ES: Kate Jaudon (Winner), Tania Myers, Debra Sugarman, Kristina Toth

Westchester ES: Kathy Geraghty (Finalist), Mary Beth Allen

St. Mark School: Marilyn Holzman (Finalist), Beverly Grier-Lucius

Our Lady of Victory School: Joana Buivys (Finalist)

WINNER: Kate Jaudon from Hillcrest ES  

Ms. Jaudon goes far beyond the standard curriculum to ensure that her students gain the knowledge and life skills they need to succeed. One way she does this is to visit each child's home to ensure that the student has a good homework environment. She reinforces the message that she is a caring and active partner in each of her student's education.

Ms. Jaudon also incorporates innovative and hands-on teaching methods to help her students learn with in the context of living and playing. To that end, she and her class maintain a school garden outside the classroom. Students participate in growing produce, tasting new foods and sharing their produce with the community. Ms. Jaudon's love of learning radiates from her. She treats each child as special and teaches her students to see each other that way too!

Outstanding Teacher Award - Middle School

WINNER: Phuong Vu from St. Agnes Catholic School

Ms. Vu wears many hats at St. Agnes. Her primary responsibility is to teach science and she does that with great success. Her students are excited to have her and love her hands-on investigative approach to learning. The rapport she has built with students, parents and faculty has enabled her to step in as a Guidance Counselor as needed. She is actively sought out for help with school issues, peer problems, family difficulties and help with arranging conferences.

Ms. Vu has also taken on the responsibilities of Assistant Principal. She helps with scheduling, orgainizing standardized testing, mapping curriculum and maintaining compliance with certification requirements.

Outstanding Teacher Award - High School

Nominee: Graham Long (Finalist) from Catonsville High School

WINNER: Kim Bickerstaff from Western School of Technology

Ms. Bickerstaff has spent the last 10 years preparing her students to leave high school ready for college level life-science majors. Students are also prepared to tackle the world around them since Ms. Bickerstaff works hard to instill a feeling of empowerment in all her students!

In addition, Ms Bickerstaff is widely considered a leader in field of study both at a County and State level. She has written curriculum for the County, helped write the HSAs for the State and is even a national grant reviewer for the College Board. And she is able to do all of this while making science fun, educational and memorable for all of her students!

I am honored to have been a part of this year's planning and selection committee. Congratulations again to all of our amazing Catonsville teachers. I can't wait until next year to read more of the outstanding achievements of Catonsville teachers!

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