The Palisades Charter Schools Foundation has announced six winners of the Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award, which is given annually to educators within the Palisades Charter Complex. The winning educators, who also receive a $2,000 grant, include Lisa Timmerman (Marquez’first grade); Julie Paiva (Kenter’first grade); Karyn Newbill (science), Steve Engelmann (science) and Bella McGowan (counseling) at Palisades Charter High School; and Lara Jacques, Vanessa Ling Dokku and Yosuke Miyoshi in Paul Revere Middle School’s music department. Educators were asked to submit either a 10-minute videotape or a 2,000-word essay describing their teaching goals, style and innovative methods. Judges Merle Price (professor of education at Cal State Northridge, formerly a Palisades High principal and Los Angeles School District Deputy Superinten-dent) and Michelle Bennett (former principal at West-wood Elementary and a retired district administrator) made classroom visits to observe the applicants. ‘We spent two inspirational days visiting the educators and came away knowing that many positive and important things happen every day in classrooms throughout the Complex,’ the judges wrote. ‘We are particularly pleased that the awards touch the elementary, middle and high school this year.’ The awards, presented since 2003, pay homage to the late Lori Petrick, who was a popular third- and fourth-grade teacher at Marquez and Palisades schools, respectively. Price and Bennett singled out three teachers in the Revere Music Department because of their inspiring interaction with and the large number of students (600) they reach. ‘We were impressed with the focus and the total engagement in the classes,’ the judges wrote. ‘Students were playing and singing in one voice. The classes were fun, disciplined and skilled.’ McGowan’s office at PaliHi has a sofa and a dog, Murphy. Her availability to any student at any time is inspirational. ‘She meets with teachers, parents and students and works closely with the nurse,’ Price and Bennett wrote. ‘Kids in need are referred to her and she’s there for them.’ The judges noted that environmental science teacher Engelmann ‘provides a respectful, supportive learning environment. His project-based classroom was run as if it were a seminar. He had gentle, but clear, expectations.’ Writing about Newbill, a marine-biology instructor, the judges observed that ‘she had kids in the palm of her hand. She had microscope work and sushi eating’at the same time.’ After visiting Kenter Elementary, the judges praised Paiva’s lovely, relaxed demeanor: ‘She easily transitioned students from a math lesson to a writing lesson through yoga. The students were totally focused.’ Timmerman provides a creative learning environment with a colorful and inviting classroom, the judges commented. ‘She was organized and interdisciplinary, using small-groups and literature to teach writing to her first-grade students.’ The Petrick Awards reception will be held on Sunday, May 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Oak Room, on Swarthmore Avenue. The Palisadian-Post will profile the winning teachers in future issues.
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