Teacher of the Year
Posted by Eve Scarff
And the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year is...
The 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year is
is Wyndi Whitlock, Orange Grove Elementary School. For more pictures see photo journals.
Ms. Whitlock participated in the process for Teacher of the Year that started in early January with a breakfast for all Yuma County principals to receive their nomination packets. There are five categories that the Teacher of the Year is selected from. They are K-3, 4-6, K-6 special areas, Junior High, High School and Outstanding First Year Teacher.
The many qualified nominees were narrowed to 15 Finalists through an interview process and with the information from the nomination packet. All interviews are conducted by Rotarians from multiple Clubs here in the Yuma Area.
Those 15 finalist then provide an essay and a video which are to address 5 different questions. A panel of eight judges are selected from Yuma Rotarians, Educators and Community Leaders. Those judges review the essays, videos and then conduct the interviews. Prior to the interview, each judge has had the opportunity to review the essays.
All finalist are judged on their essay, video and interview. All votes are handed in and then tallied by the Chairperson/Co Chair of the Teacher of the Year process. Winners are recognized in each of the 5 categories. Each category winner receives a trophy and 3 Credit Hours to be used for ongoing education, from Northern Arizona University.
The winners of various categories receive $1,000.00 cash from Horace Mann Insurance and 3 credit hours from Northern Arizona University
The 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year won a 7 day trip to Hawaii including airfare and accommodations, a $1,000.00 Best Buy Certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow from Yuma Rotary Club and 3 credit hours from Northern Arizona University.
Outstanding Teachers from Arizona Western College and from Northern Arizona University are chosen by their faculty and administration. They are not a part of the Rotary process.