Teacher of the Month/Year of the Rotary Club of Fort CollinsThe Rotary Club of Fort Collins initiated the Teacher-of-the-Month/Year program in 1994. The program was such a success that the Foothills and Breakfast Clubs were invited to participate in planning and organizing the following year’s program and have been involved ever since. Each month during the academic year, each of these three Rotary Clubs selects a teacher for recognition as that Club's Teacher-of- the-Month. Occasionally there is co-recognition. The recognized and honored teacher(s) comes to a Club meeting, makes a presentation and receives a plaque that commemorates her/his recognition. At the end of the year, a joint committee from the three clubs selects a Teacher-of-the-Year and one or two runner(s)-up. These are recognized at a tri-club meeting held in the spring or early fall. At this meeting the Teacher-of-the-Year and the runner (s)-up receive another plaque and the Teacher-of-the-Month/Year also is recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow. The messages that these teachers bring are so thoughtful and "heart felt" that your Webmaster thought they should be shared with those who were unable to attend the meetings at which the teachers spoke and interested others. If we were able to obtain a message from the honored teacher (s), you may access it by clicking on either the photo or the "name link" immediately below the photos. There will be at least a summary captured from our weekly Club bulletin, the Rotogear. It's a terrifically inspiring program and we hope you will enjoy reading about it. Teacher of the Month – April 2008
Teacher of the Month – March 2008
The position that I hold right now is in the PaCE (Professional and Community Experiences) program. I feel very, very strongly about saying that this is our time today to honor each of you. It is the business community that has done such a phenomenal job. I believe that PaCE has been in existence for about 15 years and in those years we have had between 500 and 700 businesses every year supporting our students. We have the opportunity to place students out in the community based on their career interests and it is you taking on our students and giving us these incredible experiences for them to explore. So when I was asked about what was one of the things I liked best about teaching, I said it is relationships. It is the relationships that I have developed over the years with the community, with the students, with the school staff, with the administration and with the community that I like most. I really get to work with my friends. I wanted to share some of those relationships with you. What I have appreciated so very much is, that years later after students have graduated, they come back and they thank you for what you did for them in high school. And it is a phenomenal feeling, that they remember you and the really neat thing is that you remember them, because you have had an impact on thousands of people. One example is of the student who got an intern position at a bank. He would say over and over again that he could not believe that he had such a professional opportunity as a junior and senior in high school. want to thank you again for the support of PaCE and the honor. I have truly enjoyed the relationships. Teacher of the Month – February 2008
A complete list of her 10 reasons can be found on the our club web site under About Us/Whats New/Teacher of the Month. Teacher of the Month – January 2008
Garth McCann introduced Ryan Joyal from O'Dea School. Ryan researched Rotary and was pleased to find numerous youth-oriented committees. He was surprised to be selected. He voiced several concerns about education: the "need to fix it" translates into getting all the help teachers can get. He went to a meeting based on this "need" and was disappointed to find no teachers involved. He proposed three solutions: 1) Give appropriate respect to teachers because we are all interested in education-don't marginalize them. 2) Make families stronger. He gave an example of a girl who didn't know who her father was-and this affects her education. 3) Support an increase in resources; schools need to move into the 21st Century. For example, he has only 3 computers into his classroom. He urged us to volunteer in the schools. Teacher of the Month – December 2007
Garth McCann introduced Rocky Mountain High School principal Tom Lopez to introduce the Teacher of the Month, Mark Brook. Tom summarized Mark's credentials by saying that he is skilled at teaching math at at the highest and lowest levels and to students who are the best and to those who are struggling. He is also the Rocky football coach and was just named the conference coach of the year. Mark thanked Rotary for their recognition for something he is passonate about but also humbled to reqresent the staff at Rocky. When asked why he teaches, he says it is because it gives him the opportunity to, "make a difference." He and his wife have two children and he said that he is lucky that they all like football and support him when the team wins or looses. He indicated that his challenge is influencing and guiding students when they are dealing with conflict or when adversity strikes. That is when the opportunity to make a difference is greatest and the most needed. Teacher of the Month – November 2007
Garth McCann introduced Preston Junior High assistant principal John Howe who then introduced the teacher of the month, Mary Klass. Mary took a unique approach in her presentation. She talked about her experiences outside the classroom, particularly those about where and when she meets present students, past students and past students who have sons or daughters currently in her class. One of our current members, Tanis Roeder, was a past student as well as the son of one of our members, Patrick Piche, who was present at the meeting. One unique encounter was while she was on vacation in Texas and met a former student who was there playing a soccer match. Another happened when she got a note from the Larimer County Detention Center and later a visit from the sender. She was given a crystal by Garth and a book from Character Fort Collins by President Chuck. Teacher of the Month – October 2007
Garth McCann introduced Ryan Grindel an art teacher from Polaris School for Expeditionary Learning as October Teacher of the Month. Polaris is a Poudre School District School for grades seventh through 12th that uses an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound design and is housed at Fossil Ridge High School. Students participate in learning expeditions that mirror their classroom curriculum. Ryan told a story that happened on an expedition to the Grand Canyon where one student was helped to overcome a fear with help from other students. Advances, growth, overcoming challenges, they are all tough things to do, for all of us. As a teacher I cherish those teachable moments, either in the art room or outside of the art room in the Grand Canyon. Teacher of the Month – September 2007
Garth McCann introduced Jody Moore from Zach Elementary. She first extended a thank you from all teachers for Rotary giving recognition to educators. She then indicated she was a native of the area, her father being a farmer and her mother a teacher in the district. Following college, she joined Poudre School District and has spent 13 of her 16 years with the same principal. After 3 years at Irish Elementary, she joined Kim Nohava at Kruse for 7 years and then moved with her to Zach for the last 6 years. Jody likes best seeing the lightbulb of understanding go on in a student. She is most proud of knowing she is making a difference in her 3rd graders. She confirms that she has a strong work ethic and is proud to be a role model for students and a mentor for new teachers. The biggest stumbling block for her is having to balance everything-standards, testing, volunteers, curriculum, committee work, character education, etc. She tries always to take one day at a time, to stay positive, and to maintain focus always on the kids. She was given a crystal by Garth and a book from Character Fort Collins by President Chuck. "Men must be taught as if you taught them not,
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