Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Suzy Smith is named Dallas ISD’s 2008-2009 teacher of the year

Natalie Brown is the DISD 2008-2009 teacher assistant of the year

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — Suzy Smith, a teacher at Dallas Independent School District’s Edna Rowe Elementary School, was named the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year on May 20 during an awards program at the Old Red Courthouse.

The district also announced that Natalie Brown, teacher assistant at Frank Guzick Elementary School, is the 2008-2009 Teacher Assistant of the Year.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa presented awards to each of the winners and Stephen Butt, senior vice president of Central Market H-E-B, the program’s sponsor, awarded Smith $5,000 and Brown $1,500.

Suzy Smith, an art teacher, has six years of teaching experience, all at Edna Rowe Elementary School. She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Women’s Studies at Emory University in 2000.

"Suzy Smith models high expectations for herself through optimal levels of preparation, execution and reflection," said Edna Rowe Elementary School Principal Jonathan Smith. Principal Smith says that two remarkable highlights of Smith’s teaching career are having her students’ work featured and auctioned at Barneys New York in North Park Center, and spearheading creation of a school art garden funded by a $20,000 grant from Ameriquest, Big Thought, and Junior League.

The Art Garden serves as an outdoor laboratory for math, reading, writing, science, and the arts. "The garden is my greatest contribution to my students and school," said Smith. "The garden stands as a working classroom for rigorous science instruction and student reflection. I have inspired my students to love their art and to enjoy the process of creating. Students who participate in consistent art programs build critical thinking skills."

Suzy Smith will represent the district in the regional competition along with this year’s runner-up, Rita Hines, who teaches mathematics at the School of Science and Engineering at the Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center. Other finalists for the Teacher of the Year award were Elizabeth Powers, an eighth grade language arts teacher at Robert T. Hill Middle School; and Judith Kern, who teaches third grade at Nancy Moseley Elementary School.

The 2008-2009 Teacher Assistant of the Year, Natalie Brown, tutors students, prepares classroom materials, assists teachers with classroom instruction and supervises students in the hallways, classrooms and cafeteria at Frank Guzick Elementary School where she has worked for two years. Brown loves working with students and being able to make a positive difference. “The most important accomplishment of teacher assistants is the direct influence you have on today’s youth,” said Brown. “It is our duty and responsibility to help them find their own voice, their own path, and their own inner strength that will help guide them through life.”

The finalists for Teacher Assistant of the Year include Freddia Ferrell, Birdie Alexander Elementary School; Natalie Brown, Frank Guzick Elementary School; Tu Nguyen, Esperanza “Hope” Medrano Elementary School; Yvonne Green, School Community Guidance Center, high school program at the Alternative Placement Center at Village Fair; and Melony Holmes, H.S. Thompson Learning Center.

Source: Dallas Independent School District

Related stories

• UPDATED: Four finalists named for 2008-2009 Dallas ISD Teacher of the Year (May 16, 2008)

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• Dallas ISD > Dallas ISD Elementary Schools > Guzick
• Dallas ISD > Dallas ISD Elementary Schools > Rowe
• Dallas ISD > Dallas ISD High Schools > Ewell