Winners Announced in the Choice Literacy "Why My Literacy Leader is Better Than Chocolate" Contest

Principals, teachers, and curriculum coordinators throughout the country are receiving Valentine's Day chocolates from an unexpected source - their colleagues who nominated them for "Chocolate Leadership" Awards. Godiva chocolates and professional development materials are being awarded this week to the winners of the "Why My Literacy Leader is Better Than Chocolate" Contest from Choice Literacy, a leadership organization for K-12 educators located in Dedham, Maine.

Dedham, Maine (PRWEB) February 14, 2007 -- Principals, teachers, and curriculum coordinators throughout the country are receiving Valentine's Day chocolates from an unexpected source - their colleagues who nominated them for "Chocolate Leadership" Awards. Godiva chocolates and professional development materials are being awarded this week to the winners of the "Why My Literacy Leader is Better Than Chocolate" Contest from Choice Literacy, a leadership organization for K-12 educators located in Dedham, Maine.

Literacy leadership comes in many forms in schools - sometimes it is a colleague who puts just the right book in your hands. Or it might be a principal who provides just the right workshop when you need it. Or a parent who finds time to come into classrooms and reads to children.

"We thought it would be fun to honor people who have made a difference in their colleagues' professional lives through reading and writing initiatives," explained Brenda Power, Choice Literacy's founder. "We left the entry form open-ended, and received funny stories, inspiring stories, and everything in between."

Recipients included an administrator from an Indian reservation who turned down the chance to participate in a federal program (and the attached funding) because it didn't match the needs of his students, a team of literacy coaches who used bathroom walls to post compelling quotes about reading instruction to spark discussions at lunch, and a colleague who gives up Saturdays to assist other teachers with book shopping.

Winners received a large gift box of Godiva chocolates, literacy professional development DVDs, and complimentary Choice Literacy Web site memberships.

The winners include:

Grand Prize: Parmala Farmer (Landrum, South Carolina)
Nominated by Lana O'Shields

First Prize Winners

Amy Greene, Wendy McColley, and Catherine Weiss (Annandale, VA)
Nominated by Jennifer Orr

Linda Morgason (Richmond, IN)
Nominated by Kamara Gard

Alisa King (Knightdale, NC)
Nominated by Jamee Lynch

Vanessa Bramlett (Oakland, CA)
Nominated by Cassandra Todd

Cindi Supko (Gardnerville, NV)
Nominated by Brenda Downs

Richard Bordeaux (Mission, SD)
Nominated by Lori Jackson

Lisa Russell (Maryville, TN)
Nominated by Colleen Mattison

Ginger Featherstone (Martin, FL)
Nominated by Shannon Blount

Natalie Brunelle-Dunning (Portsmouth, RI)
Nominated by Michele Poselli

Julie Dermody (Chapel Hill, NC)
Nominated by Bernice Goldstein

Stephanie Blad (Shakopee, MN)
Nominated by Dave Orlowsky

Choice Literacy is a multimedia resource for K-12 literacy leaders, with services that include a subscription Web site, DVD workshop kits, and retreats for literacy coaches. Over 4500 literacy leaders from all 50 states and 26 countries across the globe subscribe to "The Big Fresh," Choice Literacy's weekly newsletter available at www.choiceliteracy.com.

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