really clock out. When you consider all
of the hours outside of school that
teachers spend to prepare meaningful
lesson plans, grading, searching for
enrichment activities, writing grants
for classroom projects, and
professional development, the hours
add up.
With all of the extra time they put in,
you may wonder why anyone would
pursue a teaching career. The answer
is simple: Teachers care about their
work and the future of our kids. Our
educators play a key role in every
student’s development and evolution.
This week, May 6-10, is Teacher
Appreciation Week, when we take
time to recognize and thank all of the
hard-working teachers who are
dedicated to educating our youth.
As our new Tahoe Truckee Unified
School District vision states: “TTUSD
teachers are passionate professionals
entrusted with the duty of ensuring
the highest level of learning for all
students.”
Not only are our teachers responsible
for learning, along with school staff,
they are entrusted with maintaining
the physical and emotional safety of
our scholars while they are at school.
If that sounds like a big job to you,
multiply that by 20-34 students at a
time.
Last summer, we recognized 2012
Tahoe-Truckee Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Jurosky of North Tahoe High
School and the Excellence in Education
Linda Brown Fellows Award winners:
Sherry Burns Sullivan, Truckee
Elementary; Rita Moring, Tahoe Lake
Elementary; Amalia Niewendorp,
Truckee Elementary; and Jennifer
Smith, Tahoe Truckee High School.
These teachers were nominated by
their peers, students, and parents and
chosen from among many other
excellent teachers also nominated.
Whether or not they win awards,
there are outstanding teachers at
work every day in our schools.
TTUSD teachers share their passion
for music, sports, theater, and
literature, helping students to reach
their full potential and teaching them
skills that will enrich their lives well
beyond their school years.
In the past year, teachers at North
Tahoe High School and Tahoe Truckee
High School voluntarily increased their
workloads, preparing more lessons and
syllabi in order to offer new courses
based on student requests. Course
options for the 2013-2014 school
year will continue to increase.
Through the North Tahoe High School
Ski Academy, teachers also work
closely with athletes and other
students who need a flexible schedule
in order to accommodate rigorous
competing and training schedules,
allowing them to get all the support
and benefit of a comprehensive high
school experience with the flexibility of
an independent study program.
Our elementary and middle school
teachers are continually looking for
ways to engage students through
hands-on learning with Green Teams,
Eco-Clubs, and various field trips and
leadership programs in conjunction
with community partners such as
Sierra Watershed Education
Partnerships, Sagehen Field Station,
Truckee Rotary Club, and Tahoe
Forest Hospital.
Many of the outside of the classroom
experiences that TTUSD students
participate in require extra work
organizing and coordinating on the part
of teachers and staff but provide
invaluable lessons in environmental
stewardship and leadership.
Another example of a teacher working
toward increased opportunities for our
students is Jean Fournier of Glenshire
Elementary.
Fournier and Leisa Peterson saw the
value of the international education
program Odyssey of the Mind and
worked hard to bring this creative
team problem-solving program to
Tahoe-Truckee in 2010.
This community-sponsored program
has continued to grow, and this year
ten Tahoe-Truckee Odyssey of the
Mind teams competed, ranging from
elementary school to high school.
Several teams were coached by
TTUSD teachers who volunteered their
time (along with parents and
community members).
There are countless examples of
teachers going beyond their job
description to enrich students’ learning
experiences and increase programs at
TTUSD schools.
Please take time this week to let
teachers know that we appreciate
their contributions to the success and
well-being of our scholars.
Provided by Switchback PR +
Marketing on behalf of the Tahoe
Truckee Unified School District.
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