Teachers Celebrated at Petrick Awards

As Lori Petrick’s teacher assistant at Palisades Elementary, Marianne Bordier observed Petrick teaching fourth graders about Japan by guiding them in the making of samurai dolls, raising silkworms, computing math on an abacus and writing haiku. ‘She taught me to teach thematically, integrating all subjects around a theme,’ said Bordier, a Topanga Elementary fourth grade teacher who worked with Petrick in the mid-1980s. ‘That’s how I clicked with education, and that’s how I teach today.’ For that reason, Bordier said she feels especially honored that the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation chose her and four other teachers for the Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award. Since 2003, the foundation has given the award to honor Petrick, a popular teacher at Marquez and Palisades Elementary schools, respectively. She died in 2002 of bacterial pneumonia. Foundation co-chairs Eileen Savage and Susie Newman presented each teacher with $2,000 and a crystal trophy during a ceremony at the Oak Room on Sunday. The teachers also received proclamations from LAUSD School Board member Steve Zimmer and State Sen. Fran Pavley (who was unable to attend). The other honorees included Topanga Elementary fourth-grade teacher Marta Graves, Kenter Canyon Elementary third-grade teacher Inyoung Lee, Paul Revere Middle School librarian Cynthia Murphy and Palisades High history teacher Steve Burr. Lori’s daughter, Kimi, and her son, John, along with his wife, Sara, attended the ceremony. ‘Thank you for continuing the legacy of my mother in the Palisades,’ said John, who was installed last Thursday as the new Chamber of Commerce president. Newman explained that judges Michelle Bennett and Teresa Riddle (both retired principals) chose Bordier and Graves, a teaching team, because they were impressed by the students’ pride in their work. ‘It’s just wonderful to see that kind of excitement,’ Newman said. ‘We have the teachers to thank for that.’ ??This past year, Bordier and Graves taught their students about California history across all subject areas, but they especially incorporated the arts. The students designed missions using different media and performed in two historical plays called ‘Missions and More’ and ‘Gold Dust or Bust.’ Bordier, who has taught at Topanga for 18 years, said that their goal is to give students experiences beyond the textbook. ‘You want to make it fun for kids,’ the 51-year old said, emphasizing that the students retain the material better. After graduating from Cal State Northridge, earning her teaching credential from Loyola Marymount and working as Petrick’s assistant, Bordier began teaching at Main Street Elementary in South Central, where she met her husband, Paul. Recently retired, Paul worked for 32 years in education, spending the last 10 years at City of Angels, an independent study school. They reside in Topanga and have two grown children, Matt and Katie. While Bordier and Graves received the award as a team, Graves gave special recognition to Bordier for teaching both of her children (Eli, 10, and Nikobe, 13) and for mentoring her in the classroom. Graves, 37, has worked at Topanga since 2003. Previously, she taught geographic information systems and global position systems for natural resources management at Louisiana Tech for five years. She moved to West Hills in 2003 because her husband, Steve Graves, accepted a job as an associate professor in geography at Cal State Northridge. Graves was looking for work and thought Topanga would be the perfect fit. She was originally hired as a science teacher for kindergarten through sixth grade. ‘I really enjoy the kids; there is never a dull moment,’ said Graves, who earned her bachelor’s degree in geography and environmental studies from UCLA and master’s degree in geography and urban and rural development from University of Illinois. ??At Sunday’s ceremony, Newman acknowledged Lee for also establishing high and clear expectations in her third-grade classroom. During the judges’ visit, the students composed and edited business letters. ‘I encourage a lot of peer revising,’ said Lee, who has taught at Kenter for six years. ‘It gives them a better eye for their own work.’ Lee, 29, requires her students write about specific memories in journals throughout the school year. The goal is to teach the students to focus on a specific topic. When the kids write about a summer trip, she asks them to hone in on one interesting moment. ‘It’s vivid and more meaningful,’ she said, noting that the kids have 20 to 25 entries by the end of the school year. Lee, who lives in West Los Angeles with her husband, Daniel, earned her bachelor’s degree in linguistics and English from UCLA. She planned to continue her studies until she took a temporary teacher assistant job at Canyon Elementary. ??’The teachers I was working with told me that I had a knack for teaching,’ Lee said, so she decided to continue in the profession and is proud to work in public schools. ??Newman also congratulated Burr and Murphy, who were previously profiled in the Palisadian-Post. ??The judges were impressed by Burr’s interactions with his students. ‘He honored everyone’s answers, even though they were not always right,’ Newman said. ??PaliHi Executive Director Amy Dresser-Held added that Burr recruits students who may not consider taking advanced placement history. ‘He knocks the gate down, so students get access to the course,’ she said. ??Burr thanked the foundation, saying that he taught Lori’s daughter, Kimi, during his first year at PaliHi. ‘It makes me even more honored to receive this award,’ he said. ??Lastly, Newman acknowledged Murphy for encouraging students to visit the library by hosting career days, author talks and cartooning workshops. ??’She has developed programs that have made our library a success,’ Revere Principal Fern Somoza said. ??Unfortunately, LAUSD decided to eliminate librarian positions at secondary schools, so Murphy will teach seventh-grade English at Bancroft Middle School next school year. ??’Fern did all she could, bless her heart, to keep me in the library,’ Murphy said. ??To end the festivities, Kevin Niles of American Legion Post 283 presented the foundation with a $5,000 check.