Today is Teacher Appreciation Day, the keystone day of Teacher Appreciation Week. Envision celebrates this important day by awarding five teachers the designation of Envisionary Educator of the year. Each winner receives a $1,000 Adopt a Classroom grant.
The awards were based on blind nominations from Envision student alumni across the country. Our Chief Academic Officer Andrew Potter read scores of nominations, and hand-picked the five teachers who our 2016 Envisionary Educator Award winners. Congratulations to Ann Savkova, Ben Suro, Eileen Slusser, Gerald Liang, and Traci Leonard for the incredible impact they’ve made on their students’ lives.
Envision would like to thank all of the teachers who inspire students everyday across America without recognition. Teaching is a hard job, one that is often thankless and requires fortitude and compassion for children. Without our educators, our students and society would suffer greatly.
Below find our 2016 Envisionary Educators.
Traci Leonard, South Brunswick Middle School
Traci Leonard, NBCT, has taught numerous grades at the elementary and middle school level for more than 20 years. For the last eight years, she has been teaching 6th and 7th grade Academically/Intellectually Gifted students English/Language Arts at South Brunswick Middle School in North Carolina. During her career, she has served her faculty and students in numerous roles as mentor, literacy coach, AIG Chair, and Future Problem Solving Program Club Advisor, and in different groups, including the School Improvement Team and the Principal’s Council. She has also facilitated the National Board Candidacy Program—initial and renewal—at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Excerpt from Traci’s Nomination: Ms. Leonard wasn’t anything I had ever seen before – her class was filled with explosive debates, rich literature, and a myriad of ways to learn. She satiated my need for knowledge and my passion for education. It wasn’t easy; I worked hard for the grades I received. But she showed us that we can think on our own, can make something from our imagination, and can solve problems in ways that others may not expect.
Not only that, but she has always been there for me as a mentor and friend. I will never forget Ms. Leonard—she taught at a different level than my others teachers. She is more than a school teacher, more than a mentor—she is the true embodiment of the word “Envisionary,” in every aspect of her being.
Ben Suro, Bergen County Technical High School
Ben Suro is a 12-year veteran teacher who has taught biology, chemistry, and physical science on the honors-level. He currently teaches AP Biology and Honors Biology at BCTHS - Teterboro. He has experience as a coach, club moderator, tutor, new teacher mentor, and has held administrative positions as an Assistant Dean of Students, Dean of Students, Department Chair, and Summer Program Assistant Director.
Excerpt from Ben’s Nomination: My teacher inspired me with the use of real-life applications in class. He makes it a point to give examples of how these methods and processes are commonly used in fields of science, technology, and medicine. This is extremely effective for me and my fellow classmates because many of us are planning to advance in those fields in college, and it enables us to get a head start into why such concepts are so significant in common day scenarios.
As a result, I'm able to take the knowledge I learnt from the class and use it to fuel and further my own independent work outside of the classroom and even outside of the school... His drive to constantly encourage us to put our answers in "our own words" so that we are able to better understand and convey the information we process with others led me to be ahead of many kids my age, giving me a sense of pride and accomplishment I have never achieved before the course.
Eileen Slusser, Coshocton High School
Eileen Slusser has been teaching in the Coshocton City School District for 24 years. She currently teaches 8th grade language arts. She began her career teaching second grade and then moved to middle school where she taught history and language arts. Eileen currently lives in Ohio with her husband John and triplets, Alexis, Peyton, and Jhett who are 17 years old. They have two older children, Todd and Ashley, who are pursuing their careers. Her favorite place to vacation is Siesta Key in Florida.
Excerpt from Eileen’s Nomination: My Envisionary teacher saw the potential in me from the beginning to become a leader that I never would have seen without her guidance… I have always loved English and she strengthened it through movies, a song, and so many writing activities, especially writing prompts that she would cover our names on and have students read someone else's writing; she made our class feel like a family throughout the whole year.
My freshman year in high school was when she nominated me for an Envision leadership program that, if I never would have attended, I wouldn't have seen the budding leader within myself that she saw all along. I wasn't sure if the program was for me at first, but she really encouraged me to try something way out of my comfort zone, and it ended up being one of the best decisions I've ever made.
She made a huge impact on me in eighth grade and I was blessed to have such an incredible teacher two years ago who gently pushed me in the direction and has helped me realize that I want to be an inspiration to someone else the way she's been one to me.
Gerald Liang, Newark Memorial High School
Gerald Liang teaches science at Newark Memorial High School in California. He has taught Chemistry, Biology, Physics, AP Physics, Marine Biology, Rocketry, Introduction to Engineering Design, and most recently Principles of Engineering. The later two subjects are the first two courses in the PLTW Engineering pathway that is offered at NMHS. Gerald also enjoy watching science shows like Nova.
Excerpt from Gerald’s Nomination: Mr. Liang is trying to change our school for the better. Last year, he introduced PLTW, an engineering program, to our school.
Seeing how Mr. Liang is positively affecting the school has motivated me to begin acting upon my own goals. I was once a typical "prefect", athletic and incredibly smart yet depressed. Although Mr. Liang may not realize it, it's from watching his determination and progress on changing the school that is motivating me to begin my own movements for not only our school but also our city. Mr. Liang is doing this for other students as well and I am so grateful to have him as my teacher.
Ann Savkova, Northampton Area High School
Ann Savkova is an English teacher at Northampton Area High School located in Northampton, Pennsylvania and part of the Northampton Area School District.
Excerpt from Ann’s Nomination: My Envisionary Educator has inspired me in a way that has changed the way I see the world. Before I was impacted by her, I did not realize how broad the world was outside of the one I live in. My Educator travels and shares her stories in our class, teaching us that seeing the way other people live around the world can change the way you view things entirely. It has showed me that if you live wrapped in your own world, you are not really living to the fullest.
Through personal conversations with her, I have learned that caring for others in simple ways can go a long way and that I should never result to conformity, an occurrence that is more than common in today's society. My Educator has inspired me to be a better me and to embrace myself instead of change for others around me.
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