Fond Du Lac Science Teacher Wins Prestigious Disney Award

By Ryan Hurley
WEAC PR/Comm summer intern

In honor of teachers that have truly touched children’s lives, Disney recently notified Gillian King, a Woodworth Middle School science teacher, that she was one of 39 teachers across the nation selected from more than 100,000 nominees to receive the Disney Hand Teachers Award.

“I am very honored. It means a lot that a student went out of his or her way to nominate me for this award,” King said. A former student nominated King by submitting an online essay. Disney then sent King an application that she filled out and sent back.

King has been teaching science at Woodworth for 10 years. She plans activities for her students such as an element treasure hunt, where scientific elements from the periodic table are hidden around the school. Children solve riddles to find the gold (Au). King also uses interactive computer movies called imovies on subjects like volcanoes. Students act as reporters and edit the sound and graphics. The seventh graders in King’s class can also try their hand at being a forensic detective who solves murder mysteries.

Each Disney winner and his or her guest will receive an all-expense paid trip to California to attend the Disney Hand gala in July. They will also get a $10,000 personal check and a $5,000 donation for their schools.

In October King will travel to Florida to work with others involved with the award to develop an action plan for Woodworth. “I really want to help Woodworth reach the next level,” King said. She is working to raise the achievement level of at-risk students and others who may be struggling.

In May Disney staff spent a day with King videotaping her lessons and interviewing some of her students. The video will be part of a larger production shown at the July gala.

“Gillian King is a teacher who can build a wonderful and effective rapport with students that can captivate, motivate, and influence them,” said Mike Nault, Woodworth’s principal. “She has a real passion for her students.”

Posted June 14, 2004