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Two Oklahoma City High School Teachers Named All-USA Teaching Team
MCLEAN, VA -- USA TODAY named 20 winners to its ninth All-USA Teacher Team, honoring them as representatives of all outstanding teaching in our nation’s schools. The 2006 All-USA Teacher Team includes 19 individuals and a team of two (21 teachers in total) in grades K-12.
USA TODAY’s All-USA Teacher Team honors individuals and instructional teams throughout the country. Team members will receive trophies and share $2,500 with their schools, with each teacher receiving $500. All are honored in the nation's newspaper as representatives of outstanding teachers.
“We’re pleased to honor these remarkable teachers who enhance education with initiative, enthusiasm and insight. They make a real difference for their students, schools and communities,” said USA TODAY Editor Ken Paulson.
The All-USA Teacher Team was selected by a panel of judges from nominees across the country. Teachers could be nominated by school administrators, students (past or present), students’ parents, colleagues or family members. Teachers were then asked to describe their schools and students’ needs and how they go about meeting those needs.
Sandra Bennett and Gene Williams from Emerson High School at 715 N Walker are the only team teachers named to the All-USA team. Bennett and Williams are veteran educators at Emerson and are vital to the school’s Health Careers Program.
Following are the Team winners:
• Emerson/Team
Sandra L. Bennett
Gene L. Williams
Emerson High School, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Cindy Lou Aillaud
Delta Elementary School, Delta Junction, Alaska
• Patti Ball
Lincoln Elementary School, Corvallis, Ore.
• Luajean Bryan
Walker Valley High School, Cleveland Tenn.
• Kathy Ann Coll
North Allegheny Intermediate High School, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Randy Cook
Tri County Area High School, Howard City, Mich.
• Nancy Elliott
Chillicothe Middle School, Chillicothe Mo.
• Mary Hinson
Catalina Magnet High School, Tucson, Ariz.
• Nancy Yacavone Karpyk
Weirton Heights Elementary School, Weirton, W.Va.
• Elizabeth A. Ketelle
Golden Sierra High School, Garden Valley, Calif.
• Patrice Powell McCrary
Cumberland Trace Elementary School, Bowling Green, Ky.
• Susan Menkes
Cantiague Elementary School, Jericho, N.Y.
• Paula R. Moore
Williamsport High School, Williamsport, Md.
• Sandra Noel
Hatch Elementary School, Oak Park, Ill.
• Warren G. Phillips
Plymouth Community Intermediate School, Plymouth, Mass.
• Diana Schmiesing
Providence Elementary School, Fairfax, Va.
• Susie Stevens
Latta High School, Ada, Okla.
• Robert Tadjiki
Bend Senior High School, Bend, Ore.
• Kim Waltmire
Colchester Elementary School, Colchester, Conn.
• Darrell S. Woods
Hoover High School, North Canton, Ohio
Criteria for the All-USA Teacher Team were developed in consultation with our co-sponsors: the National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Middle School Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and the National Education Association.
The 2006 All-USA Teacher Team final judges were:
• Carol Antes, 1998 Teacher Team
• Betty Bigney, 2000 Teacher Team
• David Cordts, National Association of Secondary School Principals
• Carol Deets, National Middle School Association
• Robert Dubill, Former Executive Editor, USA TODAY
• Penelope Earley, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
• Anna-Marie Halstead, National Education Association
• Tim McDonough, American Council on Education
• Carol Riley, National Association of Elementary School Principals
• Robert Thornton, Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport, CT
For more information on these winners see the Thursday, October 19, editions of USA TODAY or log on to http://allstars.usatoday.com.
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