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Left to right: Cram Elementary School Principal Lori Lawson-Sarabyn,
Dr. Brian Cram, Dan Fitzgerald and Myra Greenspun. |
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The Public Education Foundation and community leader Myra Greenspun
surprised Dan Fitzgerald, a middle school math teacher, recently
by presenting him with the first-ever Myra Greenspun Teacher Excellence
Award during a celebration luncheon in his honor.
The award recognizes an exemplary public school teacher who is
successful in using innovative teaching strategies and raising
student academic achievement. This award is designed to honor great
teachers, to stimulate the sharing of innovative ideas and programs
among educators and to encourage schools to value their own great
teachers.
Dan Fitzgerald has been teaching in the Clark County School District
for 13 years. Currently, he serves as chair of the math department
and is an eighth grade math teacher at Brian and Teri Cram Middle
School. Due to Dan’s exceptional teaching, his students achieved
a 94.9 percent passing rate for the Algebra I Honors semester exam
in June 2008, which was the highest passing rate of all Northeast
Region secondary schools.
Cram Principal Lori Lawson-Sarabyn nominated Dan for his outstanding
achievement and commitment to his students’ learning.
“Dan has been instrumental in adding Accelerated Math to the sixth
grade course offerings and doubling the number of students enrolled
in Algebra I Honors,” said Lawson-Sarabyn. “He chaperones dances;
tutors his students and others in math after school; and attends
his students’ soccer and lacrosse games on the weekends to show
his support and to build relationships with them. He is very deserving
of the Myra Greenspun Teacher Excellence Award, and we are extremely
proud of Dan.”
The Myra Greenspun Teacher Excellence Award was established in
late 2008 through the vision of community leader Myra Greenspun
who wished to recognize those public school teachers in our community
who transform learning and ensure their students excel.
“Dan Fitzgerald truly embodies the spirit in which this award
was created,” said Myra Greenspun. “It is my hope that this public
acknowledgement of excellence in the classroom will demonstrate
our community’s appreciation for educators and inspire more teachers
to be innovative and creative in their teaching methods.”
Dan receives $3,000 to be used in his classroom or school or
for professional development. He also receives an honorarium of
$1,000 and 500 credits to be used at The Public Education Foundation’s
Teacher EXCHANGE™.
“Dan’s application stood apart from the start,” said Judi Steele,
president of The Public Education Foundation. “Teachers are one
of the biggest influences on student learning, which is why we
believe it is critical to recognize highly effective educators
and share their exceptional teaching strategies district-wide.
Our congratulations to Dan for all he has accomplished.”
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