What?! I Won a Teaching Award?

Yesterday I got the news, in a techy-geeky way, via a Smartphone set on speaker. My principal came into my room, after school was dismissed, with her Smartphone in her hand and several of my co-workers following. The phone call was from Kathy Mears, who is the executive director of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Elementary department. She called to tell me that I was the Plains State Regional winner of the Sister Miriam Joseph Farrell, PBVM Distinguished Teacher Award! Whoa! I was in shock and truly honored to win this award. I will receive this award at the NCEA convention held in Pittsburg on April 22, 2014.

Luckily, I don’t have to write an acceptance speech! But if I did, it would go something like this…

I’d like to thank my parents for passing on the Catholic faith to me. My love of the beauty of this faith makes it so easy to share with my students.

I’d like to thank my family for allowing me to work long hours correcting papers, working in my classroom, and driving me to edcamps to learn more about teaching.

I’d like to thank my co-workers, both past and present, who continually inspired me to bring my A game each day, as they are also doing in their classroom. They also don’t mind when I share the many new ideas I find, email after email!

I’d like to thank my principal who gives me the freedom to try new ideas in my classroom and the encouragement to continue sharing my ideas.

I’d like to thank my students for learning right along with me. I love how they keep the questions coming and have fun finding the answers with me.

I’d like to thank the parents of my students who have entrusted me with their most precious gift to help them grow from 8am to 3pm.

I’d like to thank my PLN on Twitter. This award truly stems from Twitter! Only Twitter would allow a 3rd grade teacher, in Omaha, Nebraska to start a world wide Catholic education chat with her Twitter friends, Nick Senger and Nancy Caramanico. Reaching across the world, making connections, and sharing ideas to make my teaching better for my precious charges.

So what’s next? More learning and sharing! This teacher will not be resting on her laurels!