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Prestigious Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards were presented to 12 outstanding West Virginia classroom teachers today by the Arch Coal Foundation.
Announcement of the 12 teachers statewide receiving a 2010 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award was made by Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal chairman and chief executive officer. He was accompanied by West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, West Virginia Education Association (WVEA) President Dale Lee and Dr. Steven Paine, state superintendent of schools.
The 12 teachers are:
Melanie A. Donofe Liberty Elementary School Weirton
Catherine L. Grim Hurricane High School Hurricane
Carol Hamilton Spring Mills Middle School Martinsburg
Anne E. Helmick Paw Paw Elementary School Paw Paw
Lisa D. Kerns Lumberport Middle School Lumberport
Joseph Kincaid Poca High School Poca
Greg Minter Collins Middle School Oak Hill
Sandra Lee Shaw Woodrow Wilson High School Beckley
David R. Stone Fairplains Elementary School Parkersburg
Lynette Swiger Monongah Elementary School Monongah
Sheila Kay Toth Barrackville Elem/Middle School Barrackville
Mary Wright Parkersburg High School Parkersburg
"The world we live in is complex, ever-changing and challenging," said Leer. "The teachers we honor today enable students to succeed not just in the classroom, but also in the real world. These award recipients teach, inspire and love their students. What they accomplish each day helps keep America's future bright."
"The Arch Coal Teacher Awards ceremony has become an annual tradition that Gayle and I look forward to every spring," Gov. Manchin said. "Teachers who inspire, motivate and challenge their students are truly valuable to our state. Educators are responsible for shaping the minds of our future leaders, and I congratulate the teachers who are recognized this year. They are truly making a positive impact. I also applaud Arch Coal for being a great partner to the Mountain State and for recognizing our top educators every year."
"WVEA is pleased to again partner with Arch Coal for the Teacher Achievement Awards," stated Lee. "We value our relationship with Arch Coal, which understands the significance of teaching and the dedication of West Virginia's teachers to the academic success of their students. Arch Coal is to be commended for its willingness to create and finance a program to honor classroom teachers. WVEA thanks both Arch Coal and the outstanding teachers throughout the state of West Virginia for their commitment to public education."
"As educators, our challenge is to provide instruction that is not only relevant, engaging and meaningful, but also includes the world-class rigor necessary to prepare our students for life in the 21st century," said Paine. "The teachers honored by Arch Coal know that teaching students is no longer about how many facts can be memorized. Instead, it is about helping students learn to comprehend, problem-solve and communicate solutions."
In addition to recognition, awardees receive a $3,500 unrestricted cash prize, a distinctive trophy and a classroom plaque. The West Virginia Foundation for the Improvement of Education, a foundation of WVEA, makes a $1,000 award to each recipient's school, for use with at-risk students.
The teacher recognition awards are underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation and supported in program-promotion by the West Virginia Department of Education, the WVEA and the West Virginia Library Commission. The Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards is the longest running, privately sponsored teacher-recognition program in the state. Nominations are made by the public, and selection is made by a blue-ribbon panel of the teachers' peers - previous recipients of the award.
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