 Sandy Swanson of Menomonee Falls is Wisconsin's nominee for the
2004 NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education Award for
Teaching Excellence. The purpose
of the award is to recognize, reward, and promote teaching excellence.
Under the program, each state selects its nominee and submits
that person's name to the foundation. The foundation then selects
five national winners. "Sandy is an outstanding
educator, who is both a classroom teacher and School to Work coordinator,"
WEAC President Stan Johnson said in a letter nominating Swanson.
"As a teacher, she created the 'Culinary Olympics,' in which
students compete to win awards in food preparation. She also has
worked tirelessly to encourage her students to attend the local
community college after graduation." Johnson added that
in addition to building coalitions with the community, Swanson
is active in her local union and has National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards certification. Wisconsin's nominee
receives a $1,000 cash award from WEAC and also can attend the
Salute to Excellence in Education Event, held in Washington, D.C.,
in December 2004. WEAC's nominee also
is eligible for one of six national awards. |