Teachers of the Year 2007

Honor takes 3 teachers by surprise
By LIZ BABIARZ
liz.babiarz@heraldtribune.com

When teacher Jennifer Nzeza entered the cafeteria at Booker Middle School on Thursday afternoon, she thought she was escorting her class to lunch.

But instead of finding a room full of chatty students munching on sandwiches, Nzeza was greeted by the school's jazz band, balloons, flowers and Superintendent Gary Norris saying, "Congratulations."

Nzeza had been named Sarasota County's middle school teacher of the year.

"Gosh," exclaimed a very excited Nzeza, who teaches English and social studies to gifted students. "This is a huge surprise, and it's so special to me."

Nzeza, 35, was one of three teachers who on Thursday were ambushed by the "prize patrol," a group of school district administrators, business leaders and education supporters who traveled to schools bearing gifts.

"It's kind of like the sweepstakes prize patrol," said Dorothy Stuart, executive director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, which organized the event. "We have so many people going, a team of cheerleaders, and it is a lot of fun."

Riding a chartered bus to each location, the prize patrol honored a teacher from the elementary, middle and high school levels -- one of which will be named Sarasota County's Teacher of the Year at a luncheon March 22.

That teacher will represent the Sarasota County school district in state competitions and serve as a spokesperson for the teaching profession throughout the 2007-08 school year.

The prize patrol's first stop was Cranberry Elementary School in North Port. There, second-grade teacher Deborah Pappas thought she was headed to a pep rally to get students pumped for standardized testing. Instead she found students, parents and teachers gathered to celebrate her accomplishments in teaching.

"I'm very lucky to love my job," Pappas, 40, said. "I love children. This award is like a bonus. It's very humbling."

The prize patrol's last stop was at Oak Park School in Sarasota, where they surprised Robyn Sadlo, a speech and language pathologist. Sadlo expected to find a grant writing meeting in the school's library, but saw Norris standing with 35 of her students and fellow teachers.

After Norris proclaimed her high school teacher of the year, Sadlo received a very special congratulations from her students, many of whom are medically fragile and unable to speak. On computerized devices, they said: "We are proud of Miss Robyn," "Yippie," "Yahoo" and "You go girl."

Sadlo hopes her recognition brings attention to the Oak Park School.

"Not everyone knows this school exists," Sadlo, 34, said. "Some people are even scared of it. I want people to know we're a great place to work and a great place for students to learn. "

Each school in Sarasota County is given the opportunity to nominate a teacher of the year to represent the district. Those candidates, 37 this year, are then interviewed by a selection committee made up of district office staff.

Teachers are judged on their teaching style, mastery of their subject, use of student performance data, peer coaching, professional development, among other categories.

The Sarasota County Teacher of the Year will receive a $2,000 award.

The other two teachers will get $1,000 a piece. The awards are donations from Jack and B.J. Hunkele.

School district honors teachers of the year