Distinguished Practices Awardees

NEFEC and the Foundation for Rural Education Excellence are thrilled to recognize the initial recipients of our Distinguished Practices Award. This award recognizes the exceptional instructional practices of educators in the NEFEC region. Many outstanding educators in our region are embracing and overcoming challenges to achieve exemplary student performance. Congratulations to these amazing educators!

The nomination form is available at https://goo.gl/yX3xBk.

Distinguished Practice: Student Learning Routines and Procedures

Jeanna Norman is a second grade teacher and Digital Support Colleague at Lake Butler Elementary School where her class runs like a well-oiled machine. From the beginning of the year she sets the bar high and clearly defines her expectations. She encourages her students to have a growth mindset while consistently enforcing classroom rules and procedures. She uses a variety of student engagement strategies to ensure her students are always learning. When you enter her classroom, you may find yourself consumed with the learning taking place and want to pull up a chair and stay a while.

Distinguished Practice: Fostering Student Ownership of Learning

Lake Butler Elementary School's third grade teacher Mark Harrison has a phenomenal way of bonding with his students and understanding their academic and emotional needs. He uses this information to engage and motivate them to take ownership of their learning. Mark is always eager to share with his peers to assist them in helping all students reach their potential.

Distinguished Practice: Standards-Aligned Planning and Instruction

While teaching fourth grade at Lake Butler Elementary School, Traci Stidham has developed a deep understanding of standards-driven instruction. Traci encourages her team to align all activities to the standards and has the ability to critique aspects of the curriculum to make sound decisions on instructional materials. Traci's exemplary practice is reflected each year in her student achievement scores.

This award is provided through a partnership between the Foundation for Rural Education Excellence and NEFEC.