Inspirational Teacher of the Month {November}

by Laura Gurley on November 11, 2011

*I’m reposting this giveaway to make it easier for people to vote during the last few days! Happy Nominating!

We are launching a fun contest during the month of November. Inspired Teacher is searching for an Inspirational Teacher of the Month to honor with some amazing prizes! {I know, I know, we’re excited, too.}

To begin with, think of a teacher you know that has been truly, positively inspiring. Think of a colleague, or even a teacher you had as a student, who challenges you, encourages you, pushes you to teach better and dream bigger and work harder. Think of a teacher who excels in intentional teaching, a person who maybe reminds you a little of Robin Williams in Dead Poet’s Society or Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds.

Now, imagine that inspirational teacher getting the following prizes, for free, while reading positive and encouraging comments about the difference he or she really is making from the comments section of this post. . .

Hand Stamped Inspire Charm Necklace {Click photo to view other products from this etsy shop with loads of fun jewelry.}

Teachers Rock Magnet Set from CraftyAddictions {Click the photo to view this etsy shop's amazing creations with bottlecaps!}

Personalized Hand Painted Sign from SignsbyJen {Click photo to see more artistic, rustic signs.}

Yup. ALL THREE- a $50 dollar value! {Plus being featured on our site next month as an Inspired Teacher. Plus being encouraged by lots of positive comments about him/her from fellow teachers or students.}

Wise Owl Necklace on Gunmetal Chain. Click photo to see more motivational jewelry from TheRunHome.

And you? If the teacher you first nominated wins, you will receive this pendant necklace, specifically designed for teachers {Guys, go ahead and nominate anyway. You can give the necklace at the next staff Christmas party or something}.

In addition, we will also be choosing another nominated teacher from the comments for a mystery prize. {So, don’t worry if you don’t think your person may not get a lot of votes– you are still entering them to win something fun!}

Have a teacher in mind? Someone who gives and gives and gives? Someone who teaches with excellence or creativity or passion? Someone who just needs a boost of encouragement to keep doing the good work of educating?

Here’s how to nominate him or her {It’s easy, promise}:

1) Simply go to the comment section of this post, give the person’s first and last name {or at least name and school they teach in} and write a brief reason why you think your nominated teacher should win. {Want to nominate more than one? Okay, go right ahead!}

2) Optional: Next, go tell your friends/teaching friends to come back here and vote for the same person. Telepathically speaking, it might be hard to generate votes for your nominated teacher, so drop a link to this post to your teacher-friends and have them come here and comment-vote, too.{You can email this post by clicking on the “Share” button on the bottom.} Make sure to tell them that they only need to write the name of the teacher they are voting for {first and last name, please}– unless they want to say something nice, of course! The teacher with the most comments wins all three prizes listed above! {Don’t have that kind of time? No worries– just nominating someone will enter them into the drawing for the random mystery prize!}

3) Optional: Lastly, kindly subscribe to our weekly newsletter. This way you won’t forget about the competition and miss out on who wins! I’ll also be sending out a voting-reminder the week before the competition ends– in case you need to drum up more votes for your nominated Inspirational Teacher! Just fill in your information below. . .

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Don’t be Afraid! If a teacher comes to mind, don’t hesitate to go ahead and put in a nomination. I will be highlighting several teachers in a special post after the contest ends {with quotes/stories from the comments}, and I will also be choosing a RANDOM WINNER to honor with a mystery prize, as well. The more nominations, the better!

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In the mood to shop? Check out these three featured etsy shop owners who all donated the prizes and who each have teacher-related gifts, all very reasonably-priced. Stop by their shops, like their stores, and maybe even buy a little something yourself!

KellysCreativeDesign, featuring handstamped jewelry and pendants, free shipping with code FALL2011

CraftyAddictions, featuring fun and artsy bottlecap-creations

SignsbyJen, featuring hand-painted decorative signs

TheRunHome, featuring motivational jewelry by a former substitute teacher

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Let the nominating, begin! Good luck! {Comments will close in two weeks on November 15th, 11pm EST, and the winning teachers and the Inspirational Teacher post will go live later that week.}

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Tagged as: giveaways, inspirational teacher of the month

http://lauraparkerblog.com Laura

Okay, I will start things off!

I know a bajillion teachers I’d love to nominate– teachers that inspire me to teach with intention. I have three amazing ones in my immediate family– Cassie Abels (my sister who teaches Special Education), my mother-in-law (Cynthia Parker who teaches 6th grade), and Brenda Ragan (my mom). I’d love to nominate all three– and I am sure I will in future months! But, for now, I reckon I’ll share a story and officially nominate my mother . . .

Brenda Ragan (my mom). She teaches at English and History at a small private school right now, but she has also taught preschoolers, Sunday school classes, and High School English and Drama. My mom is this amazingly creative educator who thinks in illustrations, who strives for excellence in her own knowledge of the subject, and who has an honest love for literature that is inspiring in and of itself. She’s a natural entertainer, and her classroom becomes a small stage where students are invited into her teaching presence which is larger than life and hard to ignore or tune out (as middle and high school students are apt to do!).

Mom, you truly are INSPIRATIONAL– not only in the classroom, but definitely out of it, as well!
Cassie Abels

I would love to nominate someone! While teaching in Colorado, I had the absolute privilege of working with Tori Mace. As someone who was in the trenches with me everyday, I can personally vouch for Tori being an incredible person and teacher. Every day she came to the classroom with a heart to come alongside students to support their success. Committed passion and dedication are two crucial attributes that students and educators who work with Tori right away come to appreciate. She has a natural instinct with using discernment on how to handle a variety of situations that occur in our occupation. Constantly searching for the balance between authority and grace, Tori continuously puts the child first. Countless times I have had the pleasure of observing Tori build relationships with students that provided challenges. I nominate Tori for a variety of reasons but mainly because she is a person I respect and appreciate as an educator and as a friend!

PS- Brenda Ragan and Laura Parker are also INCREDIBLE teachers that I have had the pleasure to first hand observe and reap the benefits of their creative, inspirational, heart-felt teaching. For those long hours putting in extra time, for using those natural opportunities, for going above and beyond, for working through those lip biting moments, for the sweat, tears, and love you put into influencing the lives of others, I thank you!!
http://kendalprivette.blogspot.com kendal

I would like to nominate Adina Watkins – a teacher friend of mine who makes me laugh, think and cry, sometimes all in one conversation! My favorite characteristic is that she fights for the underdog. Fights. And she teaches guys to tie ties.
http://kendalprivette.blogspot.com kendal

I would also like to nominate Frances Casey. She was my language arts teacher in fourth, fifth and sixth grades. And even though I didn’t smile in sixth grade, she believed in me anyway. She set high expectations and helped us meet them. What’s really awesome is that she has kept up with me through the years. A card in the mail here and there, facebook friendship, time to talk at Lowe’s. And today? Just today she dropped two potted plants for me at my school because she knows I grow NC wildflowers.
Lisa

I’m nominating Greta Sandler an amazing elementary school teacher in Argentina. Not only is she an enthusiastic teacher she is SO dedicated! She blogs with her students, supports her colleagues, moderates #elemchat and cares deeply about her role as an educator. Her. Commitment to her students and their families is without question the example of a passionate teacher!
- http://allkidscanflourish.blogspot.com Joan Young
  
  I second Lisa’s nomination for Greta Sandler. She is a truly committed teacher who goes above and beyond to inspire and develop relationships with her students and their families. Greta is also a key player in her online network, always sharing ideas, resources, and encouraging peers. Let’s vote for Greta!
  - http://blog.edulang.com Brad Patterson
    
    I third Greta’s nomination. I’m in contact with a great number of teachers all around the world and from Greta’s blog, tweets and our other interactions, I firmly believe she is someone who should be celebrated !
  - http://iasku.wordpress.com/me/ Chiew Pang
    
    I ‘third’ that Committed, dedicated, motivating, Greta’s a Wonder Woman
http://mssandersths.posterous.com Beth Sanders

The educator that I would like to nominate is Kisha Tolbert-Woods of Tarrant City Schools in Tarrant, AL. To say the least she is a daily inspiration and shining light that keeps me going on my toughest days, supports my wildly manic ideas on my most innovative days, and always has a kind and intuitive word to say every time we speak. Kisha was a teacher at Tarrant Intermediate for many years and is currently the Instructional Partner for Tarrant Intermediate, Middle & High School. She does the job of 10 people, never complaining and always focused on getting Tarrant City Schools where we all know we can be, and so desperately want to be. She has big dreams and an even bigger heart. Her commitment to TCS and education reform in general is unbreakable and it is an honor, to say the least, to be able to work with her. She is beyond worthy of receiving a day of praise for her unrelenting pursuit in the classroom and coaching world of education. Her work reaches much farther than her arms literally could, and the path she leaves behind her will be a legacy to say the least.
- http://ces.madisoncity.k12.al.us/?PageName=TeacherPage&Page=1&StaffID=145277&iSection=Teachers&CorrespondingID=145277 Alyson Carpenter
  
  I would like to vote for Kisha Tolbert-Woods. She is a true gift to her school team as well as to Instructional Partners across the state. She is a resource to us all and a constant reminder of the joys there are in teaching and learning. Kisha is an inspiration!
  - Carmen Buchanan
    
    Kisha is a very inspirational educator!! You get excited just by being around her. Her love for learning is amazing!!!
- http://www.bestpracticescenter.org Cathy Gassenheimer
  
  Let me second (or third, or fourth, etc!) the nomination of Kisha Tolbert-Woods. She is an AMAZING teacher and instructional partner. Kisha enthusiasm for her own learning and, even more importantly, her colleagues’ and students’ learning is contagious. She works tireless, never stops learning, and inspires all.
  
  Kisha always has her rolling red cart, which is full of her latest professional books. Whenever I see her, she looks at my rolling red card (which I also take with me) and pulls out all the books. If she sees on she doesn’t have, she looks at the Table of Contents and then usually takes a picture of the book so she can order it!
  
  She IS an inspired teacher!
- Jamie Roby
  
  I have worked with Kisha for several years. I can truly say she is an inspiration to everyone she meets. She is a hard worker and dedicated to ensuring teachers are being the best teacher for their students. She is a great resource and has a love for learning that is truly contagious!
- Belinda McCay
  
  I would like to vote for Kisha Tolbert-Woods. She is an inspiration to all of the Instructional partners of Alabama. She keeps us excited about our new jobs. I wish that I had one-tenth of her energy. She is truely an inspiration!!!
Anita Day

I would like to nominate Karen Watts- Central Middle School- Wilkes County North Carolina.
Mrs. Watts not only taught my son, currently a high school senior, but now my daughter. She is dedicated, compassionate, respectful, hard working and knowledgable about the curriculum. Mrs. Watts takes time to meet with parents and uses her Wiki Page daily to display assignments and resources. I am glad that she is a teacher who understands adolescents and can relate to them on a educational level as well as a personal level.
Brenda A. Ragan

Our all male middle school math class would like to nominate Mrs. Mary Stamey as an excellent teacher because she is like a second mom to us. She makes class fun by allowing us to play chess if we finish our work early. She has good ideas for us like creating gameboards of material with which we struggle. She is generous by giving us supplies like gluesticks and pens if we forget ours. All in all, Mrs. Stamey is calm, kind, and mainly Godly.
http://amylsullivan.blogspot.com/ Amy Sullivan

I’m next!

I would like to nominate my friend, Kendra Cameron-Javis. Although I don’t teach with Kendra, just listening to her talk about the kids she teaches makes me wish I did.

Kendra also writes words of like this
http://www.abusywomanslife.com/2011/11/5-tips-on-how-to-encourage-your-child.html
to push us to encourage our own kids in school.

Love this idea of nominating our teacher friends and love the goodies that come along with it.
Stephanie

Mary Stamey: I don’t see her nomination, but I would like to vote for Mrs. Mary Stamey. She works with Mrs. Ragan, who seems to have a wonderful reputation on this site!

I feel so blessed to have these women educate my son!
Lisa Conner

Mary Chapin-Stamey
Christine Elliott

Mary Stamey,

She Rocks!
andie brymer

Mary Stamey
Nancy

I vote for Mary Stamey
http://www.globaldreamers.org Marsha Goren

I would love to nominate Janet Barnstable, the Global Virtual Classroom Project Manager. (Give back something international sponsored by AT&T) The project encourages educators and children to work in teams of three schools and build an educational website together. The excellent program reinforces technology skills, and global collaboration.
I’m honored to be able to write this message in honor of Janet Barnstable. There is no one on earth more worthy of receiving your nomination and gifts.
Janet and I have worked together in many online projects including my Globaldreamers site where she has mentored me for more many years as she does with educators around the world. Janet’s amazing personality of sharing with others is indeed rare. She is completely committed to educating children by using the Internet and encouraging others to join her in her vision.
My special colleague Janet lives in Chicago and I live in Petach Tikva, Israel we have spent many, many hours working together through email, Skype and the Global Virtual Classrom and more. I was also so lucky to have met her in person when I won the Global Schoolnet award in 2006. It was indeed special to attend the ISTE conference with Janet by my side, showing me so many programs and bringing me software I could never find in Israel. I do however want to emphasize that Janet always finds time to help any and every educator who needs assistance with technology. I have learned so much from her and so many others have as well.. One has only to google her name to see how much she has contributed to the international community with her knowledge and expertees.
It is hard for me to summarize my feelings for Janet and how much I admire what she does, I will end by saying no one is more worthy of your award than she is.
Thank you very much.
- http://lincolntechclub.blogspot.com Matthew Kuntz
  
  “It is a pleasure to recommend Janet Barnstable for the inspired teacher award. I have learned more about the implementation of technology from Janet than from anyone else in my 26 years of teaching. I have known Janet professionally for more than twenty years. I first met Janet at a statewide technology conference that focused on the integration of technology in the classroom. A colleague of mine suggested that I attend one of Janet’s sessions- in her words she said, ‘Janet is awesome, you will come away with some great ideas.’ Janet did just that and more! She gave me many practical ideas that I could use the next day in my classroom. After that, Janet became someone that I would contact constantly for guidance and expertise in the area of technology.
  
  Janet has strongly encouraged me (and thus my class) to get involved in many on-line activities. Most notably to get involved in the Global Virtual Classroom Contest. I attended a session at the annual statewide technology conference in which Janet explained the many benefits of this contest. Through her guidance we survived our first year and created an award-winning web page with students from Australia and Russia. I can honestly say that I would not have taken the risk of getting my students involved and my students would not have reaped the benefits of this project without Janet’s guidance and expertise. This is my fifteenth year in GVC and Janet is now the program manager and still helping others discover the benefits of world-wide collaborate projects. I can honestly say that Janet “pushing” me to get involved has changed the way I teach and what I can help others learn through working with students of different cultural backgrounds.
  
  In closing, I can honestly say that without Janet many of the opportunities that I have given my students throughout years would not have happened. She has the innate ability to inspire others- both students and teachers- to do great things, to reach for higher goals, and to take risks. Janet is a leader in all facets of technology and very deserving of this award.”
  - http://www.lauraleighparker.com Laura Parker
    
    “Message:
    for 2 days now I have gone on your web site from the email and
    selected the yellow vote here emblem and am unable to vote. All it
    does is recycle to home page again. My husband and I wish to vote for
    Mary Chapin-Stamey who has been a phenomenal person and teacher to our
    grandson who has several learning disabilities. You have no idea how
    wonderful it is to see him excited about one of his teachers. We are
    so grateful.
    -linda ott”
  - http://www.saintmarksschool.com Lakshmi Srinivas
    
    I am privileged to have known and been mentored by Mrs Janet Barnstable , Project Manager Global Virtual Classroom, under the aegis of Give Something Back International. She retired last year as a teacher from Percy Julian Middle School, Oak park Illinois Chicago USA. I was fortunate enough to earn her as my dear Friend , Philosopher and Guide – A True Teacher, in 2009 when she was my Team leader in GVC. One of her stellar qualities is SHE LOVES LEARNERS. She says to my students who reach out to her for guidance “You Only Have To Ask” and I shall give you the solution. She is always approachable and reachable to all of us educators and students across the world. And the best part about her is she still considers herself a learner. I am extremely grateful to Marsha for having brought Janet into my life . as well as my students.
    Janet! My students think that you are STUPENDO FANTABULOUSLY FANTASTIC .
    You deserve this prize and much more too !
    Lakshmi Srinivas
    Senior Math Teacher
    St Mark’s Senior Secondary Public School ,
    Meera Bagh,
    New Delhi
    India
Tamara

I’m voting for Mary Stamey. My sons love her! She always mentions positive things to me about them. She has a great reputation in our community. I can tell that she genuinely cares for each student and wants the best for him/her.
Anne Lambert

I join Marsha’s vote for Janet Barnstable. I saw Janet’s name in international circles before I met her, and then I had the pleasure of experiencing her dedication and inspiration. Janet works with students and teachers around the world in intervies, research, and website posting. Her ability to collaborate and to create is legendary, and she shows every sign of continuing her special work for many years. I will never forget her patience in showing me the latest technology and connecting me with classes in Africa and in Taiwan, and I know thousands of students would say the same. See her work online! And vote for her!
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Jackie

Kisha Tolbert-Woods of Tarrant, AL, City Schools is a most deserving nominee whom I enthusiastically support. She is a life-long learner who is committed to improving teaching & learning for ALL students. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious and contribute to her effectiveness.
http://rcantrell38.blogspot.com/ Rich Cantrell

I’m nominating Greta Sandler an amazing elementary school teacher in Argentina. Not only is she an enthusiastic teacher she is SO dedicated! She blogs with her students, supports her colleagues, moderates #elemchat and cares deeply about her role as an educator. Her. Commitment to her students and their families is without question the example of a passionate teacher!

REPLY

My nomination is Greta Sandler for inspirational teacher of the month. She is a truly committed teacher who goes above and beyond to inspire and develop relationships with her students and their families. Greta is also a key player in her online network, always sharing ideas, resources, and encouraging peers. She is one awesome teacher and person!

REPLY
madison

I want to nominate mrs.mary stamey from cornerstone christian academy. She is my math and science teacher and one of my favorite teachers I have ever had. I learn so mch in her class and have fun learning it all.
Susan Smith

Mary Stamey gets my vote!
Ramona Pender

Vote for Mary Stamey !!
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http://twitter.com/ahmadfz1 ahmadfz

very creative, to be an inspirational teacher is not easy. the teacher should have thousand ideas .ice breaking activities!
Ewine.ph

i am very inspired by this story. i hope teachers in my country is given a chance. they dont even give personal loan