COLLIER COUNTY — Heather Van Osten, a first grade teacher at Calusa Park Elementary School, wanted to be a teacher since she was 9.
She recalls forcing her brother to be her student and took pride when he was placed in a mentally gifted program.
“I wanted to help children,” she said of her decision to become an educator.
Monday, Van Osten and 29 other teachers were recognized by the Education Foundation of Collier County as Teachers of Distinction. Members of The Education Foundation surprised the teachers in the classroom with their award and a $200 cash prize, which was provided through the Mary Ingam Fund of the Columbus Organization.
Being named a Teacher of Distinction is the last step before The Education Foundation of Collier County chooses its six Golden Apple teachers.
“This is a great Monday morning,” Van Osten said. “I so appreciate this. It shows some people appreciate the growth and the progress their children are making. They are thanking me. It’s wonderful.”
Her students were pretty happy with her award, too.
“She’s really special,” said first-grader Alyssa Rapisarda.
First-grader Gabe Katz said his class helped Van Osten get her award.
“We made sure she got it,” he said. “She’s going to win the Golden Apple.”
The 30 Teachers of Distinction are: Michelle Barreiro, Corkscrew Elementary School; Wylie Bertuna, North Naples Middle School; Sean Brosig, North Naples Middle School; Lisa Carraher, Pine Ridge Middle School; David Wayne Cerretani, Osceola Elementary School; Timothy Chestnut, Barron Collier High School; Patricia Ann Della Posta, Palmetto Ridge High School; Kathleen Deye, Gulfview Middle School; Jason Leon Eleazer, Lake Park Elementary School; Susan Ellard, Gulf Coast High School; Maria Ferro, Parkside Elementary School; Lisa Garby, Manatee Middle School; Catherine Neal Griffin, Calusa Park Elementary School; Stacie Hall, Shadowlawn Elementary School; Lisa Hanba, Golden Gate Middle School; Jamie Luis Hernandez, Immokalee Technical Center; Holly Kennedy, Palmetto Elementary School; Marsha Layne, Gulf Coast High School; Jackie Lippold, Calusa Park Elementary School; Bridget Mann, Corkscrew Middle School; Katy Rogers, Calusa Park Elementary School; John Thomas Rosbottom, Golden Gate Middle School; Cindy Sans, Pinecrest Elementary School; Kera Schwartz, Golden Gate Middle School; Christine Sobczak, Laurel Oak Elementary School; Kimberly Sweat, New Beginnings - Naples; Nicholas Sweat, Detention Center; Kerrie Anne Thomas, Palmetto Ridge High School; Heather Van Osten, Calusa Park Elementary School; and Kathleen Weitzel, Naples Park Elementary School.
In January and February, all of the Teachers of Distinction will be observed by selection committee members. After the conclusion of the classroom observations, the selection committee will interview all 30 Teachers of Distinction.
Six of the Teachers of Distinction will then be selected as Golden Apple Teachers. The Golden Apple Teachers and the Teachers of Distinction will be recognized at the 21st Annual Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program presented by the Suncoast for Kids Foundation May 3 at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts.
To become a Teacher of Distinction, the teachers had to be observed in their classrooms. When the Education Foundation members came into the classroom, many of the teachers explained that those observations had worked out.
“Remember when the people came to watch us in class? We did a really good job,” said Calusa Park kindergarten teacher Katy Rogers.
Rogers said she was happy she could represent Calusa Park and her profession with the honor.
“This is very exciting,” she said. “I love helping the kids learn and coming to school every day to see their smiling faces, their excitement for school. I’m really happy to be one of their first teachers.”
Golden Gate Middle School band director John Rosbottom said he was excited about the honor.
“I really enjoyed bringing the community into the school. So often, we do things behind closed doors. It is nice to have the community come see us do what we do,” he said.
Rosbottom said the Golden Apple process and knowing he was going to be observed has made him more prepared when he walks into the classroom.
Golden Gate Middle School social studies teacher Lisa Hanba couldn’t stop hugging everyone when she received her award.
“This means a lot,” she said. “I love these kids. I teach because I want to teach and these kids, they mean the world to me.”
Principal Leslie Morris said Hanba, who chairs her department and is the advisor to the student council, deserved her award.
“She’s an incredible teacher,” she said.
Catherine Neal-Griffin, a second grade teacher at Calusa Park Elementary School, called Monday’s honor the “pinnacle” for her.
“I am so happy,” she said. “This is my 13th year teaching and I have never accepted the nomination before. I needed a boost to help me stay on my toes. This is an affirmation that I am doing things correctly.”
Neal-Griffin said teachers have a lot of self-doubt about their jobs.
“It is just me and the kids every day,” she said. “You sometimes doubt that you are doing the best you can, that you are doing everything right. If I don’t make it (to the Golden Apple), this is enough.”
Connect with K-12 education policy reporter Katherine Albers at www.naplesnews.com/staff/katherine-albers/.
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Comments » 12
cmonmanreally writes:
The answer to your question is, "Yes". Each and every year that Collier County seeks out teachers who go above and beyond the actual scope of their job. Teachers who educate on Marco are regularly monitored for such accolades, as are all of the remaining 2500 or so teachers in the district. The organization that oversees this process takes letters of recommendation, and follows up on them one-by-one. The bottom line is that no one has recommended any of the great teachers on Marco.
Out of respect to you, islandeye1#236971 and more importantly the Marco teachers, I hope that you are not insinuating that there is a conspiracy to keep Marco teachers from becoming eligible for such considerations for the award. So, in the future, if you or any of your colleagues, feel that a Marco teacher is a strong candidate for a Golden Apple Award, simply inquire on the necessary steps to recommend one of the Marco teachers.
If you are posing your question simply to make a "what about Marco" stand, grow up and know the process...
OldMarcoMan writes:
Union Politics
RayPray writes:
Doesn't every Collier educator not caught drunk in the classroom or groping some kid get handed one of these plaques sooner or later?
u2cane writes:
Toast, that is half true, but not all true. It doesn't mean that no teachers from Marco were nominated. They could have been nominated, but after that they have to decide to go for it as well. It is not a simple, get nominated and get it thing. They have to submit an application for why they should be a golden apple teacher. It is pretty extensive and they need to fill out a bunch of paperwork. Also, let's face it, the oragnization likes elementary schools the best and we only have one of those on Marco. It is a lot easier to have exciting and innovative fun stuff to do when you are teaching kids the basics. That is typically (not all the time, but typically) who wins these awards. After they submit their paperwork they are observed by people from the foundation in their class and judged from there. If you want a golden apple you really have to put in work (above and beyond what you do in the class, because you are trying to impress judges, not students). It is a great reward for teachers, but you are right, it starts with a nomination. From there, it is a lot of extra work for the teachers who submit.
u2cane writes:
Klab, if any Marco Island teacher could help teach you the fundamentals of English, they should win the golden apple. What are you mad that Germany got its but kicked in the 40's? Funny how you live in a country and place that you are very critical of, but had you been in Germany you wouldn't have had this freedom of speech if not for "the free enterprise nation number 1 in the world." Your words, not mine. We bailed you out, unless of course you were on the other side?
RayPray writes:
"You have a very warped, demented mind...The above "remark is outlandish!"
outlandish?
Here is why all these plaques should be
handed back in shame:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/edu...
rolomokat writes:
Let me get this right! We give awards to people that do their job they were hired to do because their inflated paychecks are not enough incentive. Yep, that seems about right.
u2cane writes:
Klabautermann writes:
"Germany is back into the 'first division' when it comes to education around the world, but still needs to raise its game to secure qualification for the Champions' League. So say the organizers of the PISA studies."
Unfortunately USA is in the last devision third last spot.
That is RayPray will tell you Island-Idiot!
.
You are right, it is obvious you weren't (how would Klab say it, oh here it is) "Historical I was not in Germany ". Do you understand that I used the quotes because I am quoting your exact words. Yet when you try and quote me, you use different words, but still use quotes. First lesson for you Klab, that was improper use of quotation marks. You can't possibly be from Germany because if their education is so superior, yours is lacking.
Klab, you are at least entertaining though. Its funny to read your crackpot posts. You are as entertaining and funny as a circus clown or drunk walking a straight line.
RayPray writes:
"the sick things you wrote concerning children."
"your blog on the other hand is sick and evil!"
"Evidence of your deranged wicked mind!"
Wow!
Maybe you got me confused with Gunga Jane?
Maybe I am sick and evil, but, then, am I slobbering around to pick up fatuous plaques for achievements so insubstantial they would be impossible to detect absent a microscope....
Cwazyman writes:
I only read a few of your comments because most is gibberish. Nobody mentioned that the students also take part in nominating the teachers. Every year they pass out slips for the students to nominate who they feel is making a difference. McDonalds usually prints out the pictures of the nominees for their patrons to view. When I attended the charter school there was three middle school teachers and two elementary nominated. As students we took pride in knowing we had the best teachers around. This is a healthy way for our community to get involved in our educations system, and for our teachers to be recognized for being best in a job that’s completely underrated.
Cwazyman writes:
Thank you.....but before I’m labeled as incoherent and uneducated, I am aware of the grammatical errors in my comment. Sometimes auto-correct does more harm than good.
u2cane writes:
Klab, if you don't like Marco the way it is, why don't you go back to Germany?
And you are way off on my name, it has to do with a band (that has become too political for me now) and my university. If you tell me which bar you blog from I can make sure the cops take another drunk off the road.
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