Two Flagstaff elementary school teachers who recently earned a top teaching award will share their teaching expertise with NAU education students.
Patricia Moreno, who teaches second grade at South Beaver Elementary, and Stacey Wirth, who teaches first grade at Thomas Elementary, were named Rodel Exemplary Teachers by the Rodel Foundation of Arizona for 2009.
The two teachers are among 17 educators statewide who earned the award that acknowledges their success in guiding children in low-income schools.
Moreno and Wirth will pass on their knowledge about teaching in low-income schools by mentoring student teachers at NAU for three years through its Rodel Promising Student Teachers Program.
“The Rodel Exemplary Teacher Initiative honors outstanding educators and offers the next generation of teachers the chance to practice with the best,” said Daniel Kain, dean of NAU’s College of Education. “We work to develop educational leaders who create opportunities for children, and these exemplary teachers are the embodiment of that vision.”
The Rodel Foundation chooses its Exemplary Teachers in Coconino, Maricopa and Pima counties. Teachers are chosen for their track record of high student achievement, recommendations from their principals and must teach at low-income schools. Each award winner receives $10,000 in savings bonds.
Runners-up for the award are Debbie Barnard, who teaches at Kinsey Elementary, and Barbara Campbell, who teaches at Christensen Elementary. Each will receive $1,000 in prize money.
The Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona enables a team of leaders, citizens and key educators, working in partnership with others, to bring about greatness in our public schools.
Earlier this year, two NAU College of Education graduates received the Exemplary Principals award by the Rodel Charitable Foundation.
For information, go to www.rodelfoundationaz.org.