TEACHER AWARD WITH A TWIST
Carlston Family Foundation Invites Students to Honor California Teachers at
2003 Outstanding Teachers of America Awards Ceremony
At this years Carlston Family Foundation Outstanding Teachers of America Awards, on October 18th, in San Rafael, California, thats just what will happen. Five outstanding California public school teachers will be recognized by the young men and women they taught.
Contact: Michele Samuels, Executive Director
Carlston Family Foundation
415.388.4763 phone, CFF_Samuels@pacbell.net
TEACHER AWARD WITH A TWIST
Carlston Family Foundation Invites Students to Honor California Teachers at
2003 Outstanding Teachers of America Awards Ceremony
(San Rafael, CA) -- What is a greater honor to a teacher than being acknowledged for what he or she loves to do (and receiving a nice cash award for both themselves and their school)? How about receiving that honor from their own former students!
At this years Carlston Family Foundation Outstanding Teachers of America Awards, on October 18th, in San Rafael, California, thats just what will happen. Five outstanding California public school teachers will be recognized by the young men and women they taught.
The student nominators have all been out of high school for some time now, but they all felt that one high school teacher made a huge difference in the direction of their lives. Now they will have an opportunity to thank those teachers in person, by presenting their Foundation awards to them and telling those gathered at the event what those teachers did that affected their students lives so profoundly.
I was struggling with my English skills and thought I would never be able to attend college. Because of Mr. Olsens dedication, I am attending Cal State Fullerton and my English teacher there says Im too advanced for her class."
My GPA is 3.9 and I am number 3 in my class, but I am not in the US legally. Our family is poor. It was Mr. Dolan who explained that a new law passed and illegal students can now attend the University of California higher education system. He said that with my student loans I could now go to college and get a good job. He has been like family to me and advises me on my future. It is so great to have so much hope for the future."
I grew up very poor in East San Jose. Now I am a college graduate of Santa Clara University, because Mr. Brandt inspired me to become a writer and allowed me to explore my creativity."
Student nomination is one of the key characteristics that sets this award apart from so many teacher awards," stated Michele Samuels, Executive Director of the Carlston Family Foundation. We know it will make the presentation more meaningful to the teachers to have the students honor them."
This year's honorees, in alphabetical order, are: Martin Brandt, Independence High School, San Jose; Clifford C. Corigliano, Sr., San Bernardino High School, San Bernardino; Brad Dolin, Azusa High School, Azusa; Kathryn Hieger, Edison High School, Fresno; and Mark Olsen, Gladstone High School, Covina.
The honorees were identified by their former students, who attributed much of their personal academic success to these extraordinary personal mentors. Many of the students came from adverse circumstances with few of the advantages that frequently lead to later academic success. It was often the example and effort of a single high school teacher who believed in them and their potential that made the difference.
The Carlston Family Foundation Outstanding Teachers of America Awards include a cash award for the teacher and a second cash stipend for the high school at which he or she teaches.
Some nominating students were recommended for the interview process by their former high schools, while others were chosen through partnerships with organizations like MESA (Math Engineering Science Advancement) and EAOP (Early Academic Outreach Program) and Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, a service and mentoring fraternity.
The Carlston Family Foundation was formed in 1987 by the founders of Broderbund Software, an educational software company. When Broderbund was sold in 1998, the Foundation became independent. Its current mission is to recognize and reward outstanding teachers in our public high schools, a continuation of the original goals of the Broderbund Foundation and its founders. The Carlston Family Foundation is based in San Rafael, California.
Former California public high school students who wish to participate in next year's nominating process may fill out the survey at www.educationresearchgroup.org.
For interviews with the teachers or presenters or for more information about the Carlston Family Foundation and the Outstanding Teachers of America Awards, contact Executive Director, Michele Samuels, at 415.388.4763 or CFF_Samuels@pacbell.net. Photos and additional student and teacher quotes and comments, as well as information about the schools, are available at www.carlstonfoundation.org.
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2003 WINNERS
CARLSTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
OUTSTANDING TEACHERS OF AMERICA AWARDS
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Mr. Martin Brandt -- Independence High School; San Jose, CA
Martin Brandt teaches sophomore and junior English at all levels. He has taught at Independence for eleven of his twelve years as a teacher.
| | - Brandt has taught all four high school grades and his classes have ranged from remedial courses to Honors. He is a member of the school's Literacy Cadre and has been the school's advisor for the California Scholarship Federation. In addition, he has served two terms on the school's Staff Senate and participated in school restructuring initiatives, and is a member of the National Council of Teachers of English.
- Brandt developed a writing instruction technique called "The Technicolor Paragraph," which has improved his students' writing on all levels. He gives his students the freedom and respect to write creatively, while helping them to achieve beyond their goals in schoolwork and in life.
- Brandt has a special understanding of his students, as he graduated from a San Jose East Side School District high school. He is a living lesson of overcoming obstacles to achieve and enjoy life.
Mr. Clifford C. Corigliano, Sr. - San Bernardino High School; San Bernardino, CA
Clifford Corigliano has been teaching at San Bernardino High School since 1987. He has also been an Adjunct Professor at San Bernardino Valley College since 1999. Prior to that he was in New York and New Jersey, where he was also a teacher and then a principal. He currently teaches Honors Science courses and both AP Biology and AP Psychology.
- Corigliano avails himself of as much in-service education as is offered. He "is always taking something," according to the principal of San Bernardino High. Mr. Corigliano is on the Leadership Team and the school's Attendance and Discipline Committee, and is a Focus Group Leader for the Curriculum and Instruction Team; he is also a key member of the District's Science Text Book Adoption Committee.
According to his students, Mr. "C" makes himself available to students at all hours and is there for mentoring. He teaches classes in a college format and instructs the students in college preparation and admissions processes as well as Science.
- Corigliano has received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from Tarkio College, in Missouri, and his Masters in Special Education/Elementary Education and Health Education/Secondary Education from Hofstra University, in New York.
Mr. Brad Dolin - Azusa High School; Azusa, CA
Brad Dolin teaches Math, Geometry, and SAT Preparation classes, as well as being a teacher in the AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) and MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) programs. He has been teaching since 1964 and has been at Azusa High School for 13 years. Before coming to Azusa, he taught at the local Jr. High and spent 3-4 years teaching at an elementary school.
- Dolin has a degree in Psychology and is a graduate of UCLA. He continues his education with AP Training, AVID training, and SB395 CLAD training. While not officially on school committees, he acts as an advisor to many. He was on the Text Book Selection Committee for the school and for the district and is also on the Committee for Curriculum Alignment for Geometry.
- Dolin created a math class just for "at-risk" students and an SAT Preparation class that he began at his own expense. Since then, the school's average SAT scores have increased 100-150 points.
- Dolin works 12-13 hour days at the school and goes to students' homes and workplaces, if necessary, to help them. He firmly believes that every child who wants to go to college should have the opportunity to do so.
Ms. Kathryn Hieger - Edison High School; Fresno, CA
Kathryn Hieger has been teaching at Edison High School for many years. She currently teaches AP Biology, Zoology, Biology, and GATE classes. In addition, Ms. Hieger is an Adjunct Professor at California State University Fresno.
- Hieger graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters in Organizational Systems (Biology and Social Science) from University of California at Berkeley and completed her California teaching credential at California State University at Fresno. She continues her in-service education by taking many courses including Science, Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Taxonomy.
- served as Edison High School's Science Department Chair for 4 years and is on the District's Science Curriculum Advisory Committee. During summers, she teaches at the California Mineral Education Conference. In addition to class study, she is active as a coach in the Science Olympiad and arranges for field trips like the one her AP Biology class took to Cayucos to study marine life.
- Hieger is known for respecting and challenging students and for making herself available to help students with schoolwork and college applications. She teaches about college experience and choices as well as her curriculum and pushes her students to apply to the colleges of their dreams.
Mr. Mark Olsen - Gladstone High School; Covina, CA
Mark Olsen has taught at Gladstone High School for fifteen years. He teaches English and AP Literature and was formerly the Chair of the English Department.
- Olsen initiated the AP Program at Gladstone and developed the district AP Program in English for the Azusa Unified School District. He serves on the committee to develop English and Language Arts curriculum for the high school junior and senior classes. As a member of the Faculty Council, Mr. Olsen helps stage faculty events. He also participates in and assists with student events at the school.
- general consensus around Gladstone High is that Mr. Olsen goes above and beyond what most teachers do to help his students succeed. He pushes his students hard, but with such care that they don't mind being challenged. There are no discipline problems in Mr. Olsen's class. He is supportive of students' personal goals as well as their school goals and makes himself available before and after school. He utilizes his life experiences as a musician and Vietnam Veteran to help them understand different aspects of life.
- the last several years, Mr. Olsen has been honored by being chosen by the graduating seniors as the teacher to hand out diplomas at graduation.
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