Source: The News & Observer
Eriksen named Chapel Hill-Carrboro Teacher of Year
by Staff Reports
May 29, 2009
Kathryn Eriksen, a social studies and AVID teacher at Carrboro High School, has been named the 2009-10 Teacher of the Year by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
The announcement was made this evening at the district's annual Recognition Reception. Eriksen was selected from a pool of 17 teachers selected from schools across the district. She has five years of teaching experience and holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from UNC Chapel Hill and a master's degree in secondary social studies from Wake Forest University.
Eriksen received a $1,000 prize from Sun Trust Bank. She will represent the district in regional and state competition during the upcoming school year.
Two honor teachers also were named. They are Bert Wartski of Chapel Hill High and Karen Reid of Morris Grove Elementary. Each honor teacher received a $500 award.
Other Teachers of the Year received plaques and $100 awards from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation. They are Myriam Casimir, Carrboro Elementary; Gretchen Capps, Ephesus Elementary; Gina Pace, Estes Hills Elementary; Leigh Ann Cardman, Frank Porter Graham Elementary; LaWanda Rainey-Hall, Glenwood Elementary; Janet Davis-Castro, McDougle Elementary; Michelle Wood, Rashkis Elementary; Tricia Billy, Scroggs Elementary; Kathy MacKinnon, Seawell Elementary; Robert Bales, Culbreth Middle; Redmond Grigg, McDougle Middle; Jon Beyle, Phillips Middle; Jonte' Hall, Smith Middle; and Kimberly Manning, East Chapel Hill High.
Valerie Reinhardt was recognized as the district's Principal of the Year, while Marny Ruben was named Assistant Principal of the Year. Staff Awards were presented to Emily Avetta, Rashkis Elementary, The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Exceptional Children Student Services Award in memory of Valeria Laws Daniels-Paddock; Elizabeth Angell, Glenwood Elementary, Jeanette Blackwell Mentor Teacher Award; Paula Ferrell, McDougle Middle, Exceptional Children's Award for Outstanding Contributions as a Teacher; Crystal Epps, Morris Grove Elementary, Wilson and Edwin Caldwell, Jr. Minority Student Achievement Teacher Award; Chye Kornegay, East Chapel Hill High School, Dean Smith Promising New Teacher Award; and Rose Hetzell, Lincoln Center Human Resources Department, Mary Scroggs Award for Excellence in Providing Support Services.
Four staff members were honored for holding state office in their professional organizations. They are Beth Burns, president, N.C. Hearing and Language Association; Dianne Jackson, president, N.C. American Federation of Teachers; Anne Loy, president, N.C. School Social Work Association; and Darlene Ryan, president, N.C. Science Leadership Association. Fourteen staff members were honored for winning state or national awards during the past year.
They are Margaret Blackwell, N.C. Council for Exceptional Children's Felix Barker Award and Council of Administrators of Special Education's 2009 Outstanding Administrator of Special Education; Helen Crompton, Visiting International Faculty's National Teacher of the Year; Nicole Deinert, ARC of North Carolina's Teacher of the Year; Rob Greenberg, National Association of Geoscience Teachers' Oustanding Earth Science Teacher; Stephanie Knott, Awards from the North Carolina and National School Public Relations Associations; Scott Latimore, Blue Ribbon Publication Award from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association; Courtney Mills, N.C. Technology in Education's Best Teacher Website Award; Sam Oertwig, Blue Ribbon Publication Award from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association; Robin Nucilli, Awards from the North Carolina and National School Public Relations Associations; Neil Pedersen, University of Virginia's Curry School of Education's Superintendent of the Year and a Finalist in the N.C. Public School Forum's Jay Robinson Award; Ray Reitz, Blue Ribbon Publication Award from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association; Kerry Sherrill, N.C. School Social Workers Association's School Social Worker of the Year; Stephanie Willis, N.C. School Nurse Association's School Nurse Administrator of the Year; and Jay Wilson, Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching.