A humdinger is a person of remarkable excellence or effect. It’s just one of many words we could think of to describe the phenomenal teachers that were entered into our Teacher Appreciation Week contest!
Thank you all for your inspiring entries- we received over 80! It was extremely difficult to select winners, but alas, the winners are:
1.) First Place: (2) Winners of $200 Target ® Gift Cards:
Carol Billings Messina of South Tamarind Elementary School in Fontana, CA
“She has been a teacher for 19 years working in a low socio-economic school in the Inland Empire. In addition to being a warm and loving dedicated teacher to her 29 2nd graders, she has also offered English classes to the non-English speaking parents in the past. Mrs. Messina’s teaching career is worthy of recognition.”
Kristin Therese Vogel of Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco, CA
“Ms. Vogel is extremely passionate about her students and what they can teach her. I enjoy hearing how she each day can wake up and look forward to bringing knowledge and compassion to a group of children that may be treated in an unpleasant manner because of their developmental disabilities. Teachers like her shouldn’t only be recognized once, but everyday. Our children are forever lucky to have people like her in the world.”
2.) Second Place: (2) Winners of $40 Target ® Gift Cards:
Chelli James of Ruby Thomas Elementary in Las Vegas, NV
“Chelli has been teaching Kindergarten,1st and 2nd grade for the past 15 years. She is a phenomenal teacher of the underprivileged children at a Title One Program School. Chelli has been recognized by both the administrative and teaching staff earning her this recognition.”
Sandra Rex of Newmark Elementary School in San Bernardino, CA
“My daughter is in her Kindergarten class and this is her first year at the school and she came from teaching special education classes of 15 students to teacher everyday education with 30+ students and has done an amazing job all year long for the kids. She works very hard and puts out alot of time, effort, and personal funds to make sure the kids have a great experience in her class.”
3.) Third Place: (2) Winners of $20 Target ® Gift Cards:
Paula Miller of Silver Mesa Elementary School in Sandy, UT
“Paula has been a special ed teacher for 42 years. She is currently teaching a self-contained class of 1st & 2nd graders who have severe language/learning issues. Many of her students are on the autism spectrum so it is a very demanding job.”
Chris Oswald II of Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, CA
“Mr. Oswald teaches Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES). For most of the school year, he had held Saturday morning tutoring for his APES classes, (on his own time) at a local teen resource center. He is an amazing teacher who had 138 students take the APES exam this year. His percentage of students passing this exam is phenomenal, which can only be attributed to his strong passion for his subject, a stronger passion for teaching and a strong sense of dedication to his students.”
Thank you all again for your participation!
They were so excited for the much needed help that they wrote these kind words:
