Teacher of the Year
Art Educator
Outstanding Educator Award - Phi Delta Kappa
Principal of the Year
On September 11, 2008, Commissioner of Education Lyonel B. Tracy announced that Benjamin Adams, a social studies teacher at Salem High School, is the 2008 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year. “This national and statewide award builds community awareness of our state’s finest educators, while providing positive messages about the teaching profession. The Department of Education hopes that by recognizing the state's many excellent educators, more people will consider a career in education. Mr. Adams represents the high quality educators we have in this state. It is only with such educators that our children will learn the skills so necessary to succeed,” said Commissioner Tracy. Mr. Adams has been teaching for thirteen years, twelve of them have been at Salem High School. He developed and implemented a course titled, Cold War America and Beyond, that was incorporated into Salem High School’s curriculum in 1999. He teaches social studies to a diverse group of students. He has pioneered methods in his own special education classrooms that have produced a comfortable atmosphere for students with special needs. Ben expresses to his students his own love of learning. He says, “Everyday I continue to learn and my profession is my passion.” He believes that good teaching means good learning. Ben Adams is dedicated to children outside of the classroom as well. He has been coaching since his career began at Salem High School. In the classroom or on the athletic field, he accepts all and expects each to grow and learn. For more information about this and other award/recognition programs coordinated through the Department of Education log on to http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/curriculum/arp.htm or contact Lori Kincaid, Public Information Officer at (603) 271-6646 or e-mail lkincaid@ed.state.nh.us. Hannaford Supermarkets is proud to partner with the Department of Education to sponsor the New Hampshire Teacher of the Year program.
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The New Hampshire Art Educators Association proudly announces Dawn M. Bechtold as our state’s Art Educator of the Year for 2007-2008. Dawn resides in Jefferson, NH and teaches at The Whitefield School (K-8) and The Jefferson School (K-5) and graduated from the Marylhurst College in Oregon and earned a Masters of Education Degree in Integrated Arts from Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Dawn currently serves as the New Hampshire Art Educators Association’s Region 9 representative on the Board of Directors. She is a very dedicated volunteer member and her ideas have contributed greatly to the board. Dawn has revised the Visual Arts curriculum for her school district so that the curriculum reflects the NH Arts Frameworks for all students in the district. In addition, She has worked on school-integrated maps to integrate the arts and classroom themes. Dawn has been an Induction with Mentoring Design Team member for 4 years for new staff members. Her students’ art experiences beyond the classroom have included trip to museums, a co-curricular Art Club and community projects. Each year, the students in the Middle School create at least one permanent art installation such as wall murals, stain glass window, relief wood carvings and tile projects. Elaine Turcotte, her principal of The Whitefield School, states that Dawn doesn’t have a classroom; she has an art studio where she works with students kindergarten through grade eight. Her classes strike a balance between formalized instruction and creative license. Not only has Dawn developed programs for her student, school and the district, she has worked extensively with colleges as an evaluator for and a mentor to student teachers.
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The New Hampshire School Nurse Association (NHSNA) in conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Education is proud to announce Ellen Zimmerman, RN, M.Ed.
as their selection for School Nurse of the Year. This award acknowledges a member of the NH School Nurse Association who demonstrates excellence in school nursing practice and leadership in school health. Ellen has served the students, families and staff within the Timberlane Regional School District for the past nineteen years. Currently she serves as the school nurse at Sandown North Elementary School. She was formerly the school nurse for Sandown Central School.
In her present position she has been described as one who “empowers children and leads them toward independence” and a “valuable resource to staff members, other professionals in the district and to parents”. During her tenure at the Timberlane Regional School District she has worked collaboratively with the Alexander Eastman Foundation School Dental Program, the Sandown Police Department’s DARE Program and for the past eight years she has co-chaired the Sandown North Emergency Response Team.
Ellen has been very active member of the NHSNA for more than fifteen years and has held the offices of Treasurer, President and currently is chairperson of the By-laws committee. From 2002-2006 Ellen also served as the NHSNA representative to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), serving on various tasks forces. In 2006, with other members of the NHSNA, she visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and talked with congressional representatives and senators about current health issues in schools. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of many NHSNA workshops, including but not limited to, serving on the planning committee for the New School Nurse workshop held annually at St. Anselm’s College. Ellen is very committed to her purpose as a school nurse and is most willing to share this commitment and enthusiasm with those new to the profession of school nursing. Ellen is an active member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the Timberlane Teachers Association (TTA), serving as her building representative for two years.
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The NH Association of School Principals announces the recipients of Principal of the Years.
Secondary Principal - Michael Reardon, Pembroke Academy. When Michael Reardon’s name is mentioned around Pembroke Academy, the two words that come up the most to describe him as a man and as a principal are compassion and intellect. Mike is a real thinker with a clear vision for his school. Pembroke Academy has made outstanding strides over the past years under Mike’s leadership. As one of his staff members put it “I respect Mr. Reardon not only in his role as principal, but as a teacher. He is a hands on, but also hands off administrator and knows when to be one and not the other.” Students describe their principal as protective, friendly, trustworthy; he can crack a joke with the best of them and knows every student by name. Michael Reardon is an outstanding principal to represent all that is good about principals in the State of New Hampshire.
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Middle Principal - Bill Tirone, Ashland Elementary. Mr. Tirone is a highly competent manager of resources. He has a solid understanding of the planning and budgeting process. This is vital to the school’s improvement efforts. Ashland is a property poor town and resources are quite limited. Mr. Tirone’s creativity, resourcefulness, and relationship with community members and businesses greatly enhance the school’s ability to provide a safe and positive learning environment for children. “Donations” to the school are quite commonplace. This would not happen if Mr. Tirone had not been able to establish such a positive rapport with community members. The one comment that is frequently shared is that Ashland Elementary School is focused on students. One of Mr. Tirone’s greatest strengths is his love of children. If one were to doubt this, I would encourage them to stand and watch as he greets children in the morning as they “high” or “low-five” him as they walk by. He not only knows students by name, but can also carry on a conversation with him or her about their hobbies, interests, their special professional sports team, or what their older sibling might be doing at the high school. Mr. Tirone’s decision making is driven by what he believes is to be in the best interest of students. He is not deterred by political factors, traditional approaches, or the status quo. Mr. Tirone clearly understands the value of positive relationships with children. He models it. He promotes and expects it from those who work with the children at the school.
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Elementary Principal - Dan LaFleur, Ernest P. Barka School, Derry. Dream, Believe, Achieve – these 3 words capture the mission of the Ernest P. Barka School in Derry. The school’s mission states that, “By believing in ourselves and knowing that with responsibility, integrity, and hard work, all dreams can be possible. If we dream it and believe it, we can achieve it!” The words contained within this mission statement epitomize the school’s leader, Principal Daniel LaFleur, a highly respected individual who not only talks the talk but who walks the walk. Dan is a long-time Derry educator and leader who has led the Barka School community for three years as its principal. He has had profound and enduring impact on his school, his staff, and his community. Dan LaFleur is clearly a man who everyone knows and loves in Derry. He has achieved celebrity status within the town and school community by virtue of his constant involvement in activities in and outside of the school. He has demonstrated strong and compassionate leadership through good times (opening a new school) and through challenging times (dealing with a devastating fire in the school just prior to its opening). After visiting the Barka School, it was crystal clear that Dan LaFleur has brought his staff, students, and community together in a celebration of learning. Together, they have achieved great things. Dan represents all that is right about education and though he would be the last to admit it he is clearly deserving of this great honor.
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Assistant Principal - Percy Hill, Kearsarge Regional Middle School. Students describe Mr. Hill as a person who interacts with everyone. “He knows our names and our interests. We look up to him; he’s our role model.” As a lifelong learner, Percy stays current in his field and has worked closely with future educators setting up various internships at the middle school along with summer institutes for professional staff. He has presented nationally for his pedagogical expertise and has led workshops that address bullying, team-building activities, and differentiated instruction. His town involvement is equally impressive where he is acknowledged as a, “unifying force within the entire community”. As Athletic Director, Mr. Hill helps oversee the athletic field study and future development for recreational youth programs. He has also worked collaboratively with administration and was instrumental in addressing the space needs of the school, which has led to the construction of a new middle school.
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William (Bill) Marston, a longtime New Hampshire teacher and principal, has been awarded the Outstanding Educator Award by the New Hampshire Profile chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. The PDK award is bestowed upon an individual who has made a significant and continuous contribution to improving the lives of children and young adults in New Hampshire. PDK chapter president Royce Robertson explains that “Bill Marston is an ideal recipient for the award because of his exemplary service to the schools of New Hampshire.” Mr. Marston graduated from Plymouth Teacher’s College in 1954, received his M.Ed. from Plymouth State College in 1964 and was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Northeastern University in 1979. He began his career as a teaching principal at Warren Elementary School. From 1955 to 1966, he held various teaching and leadership roles in Gorham and Ashland. Bill’s longest tenure as an administrator was from 1966 to 1981 where he was the headmaster at Pembroke Academy. After leaving Pembroke Academy in 1981, he was named principal of Goffstown High School where he remained until1996. In 1996, Bill began an extended period as a journeyman administrator, filling interim principal roles in Merrimack, Epping, Warren, Hinsdale, Gilford, Campbell, and Keene. During that span, he also taught at Plymouth State and Notre Dame College. Throughout his career, Bill has provided leadership in a variety of ways for the University System of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Association of School Principals, and New England Association of School and Colleges. Bill lives in Concord with his wife, Nancy. Mr. Marston will receive the award on June 7, 2008 at the annual New Hampshire Excellence in Education (Edies) Award Ceremony.
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