Dec 19-Jan 20 Advisor

HONORING

DECEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 CEA ADVISOR 7

EDUCATORS DISTINGUISHED FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE New London teacher brings home CEA’s highest honor; finalist for $25,000 NEA prize

“There are 3.2 million public school teachers in the United States, and there are only five Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence given out in any year,” CEA Executive Director Donald Williams told New London teachers during their convocation earlier this fall. “Representing the New London Public Schools, Connecticut has one of those five.” “I’m just one person, but I’m the voice of all of you, and I absolutely Enter or Nominate Someone for the McCormack Award— Deadline: January 24 Nominate yourself or an outstanding colleague for the John McCormack CEA Award for Teaching Excellence. This award, which includes $2,000 and an all- expenses-paid trip to the NEA Foundation’s Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C., honors teachers who are creative, student-focused, culturally responsive, dedicated to lifelong learning, and strong advocates for public education. The winner of the McCormack Award goes on to become CEA’s nominee for two additional prestigious honors: the Horace Mann Award and the NEA Member Benefits Award, with prizes up to $25,000. Applications are due January 24 at cea.org/about/grants-awards .

couldn’t be prouder than to be representing all of us,” Sked told her fellow educators. Horace Mann awardees receive a $10,000 prize and an all-expenses- paid trip to the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C., in February. Sked and the other four Horace Mann Award winners are also finalists for the NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence and $25,000. A proud public school educator and union leader, Sked is dedicated to her students and to fortifying the foundation of her practice. “I am passionate about helping teachers become the best educators they can be,” she says, “and, in turn, positively impacting many students. Every decision I make, every day, starts and ends with students.” “Elizabeth is soft-spoken,” said Williams, “but she is fierce in her defense of students and the teaching profession. She’s a role model in a time when civility and kindness are needed more than ever. She shows students the importance of standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard, and doing so with grace and determination. Because of her work for the children of New London, she’s earned the respect of her students, parents, colleagues, and the public.” “Elizabeth is a shining example of the highly qualified, skilled, dedicated teachers in Connecticut,” said CEA President Jeff Leake. “She promotes excellence in teaching and service to the profession by mentoring new

New London Public Schools Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie, Horace Mann’s Jeff Larrow, and CEA’s Donald Williams congratulate Elizabeth Sked (at podium) on being a recipient of the 2020 Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.

teachers, advocating for resources that teachers and students need, facilitating professional development presentations, and speaking to legislators about issues that impact public education.” This marked the second time this year that Sked has been recognized before her peers for her teaching excellence. In May, she received CEA’s highest honor, the John McCormack Award, which recognizes and promotes excellence in teaching and service to the profession. The award, which is highly competitive, examines teachers on five criteria: professional practice, community engagement, leadership in professional development, attention to diversity, and advocacy for the profession.

Jennings School instructional literacy coach Elizabeth Sked stands with CEA Teacher Development Specialist Kate Field.

Norwich Educator Makes Finals for National History Teacher of the Year The Norwich Free Academy community is proud

of fixing that. Social studies teaches you how to use the political process.” CEA Executive Director Donald Williams met with Cook to congratulate her and brought a special gift to commemorate her achievement. Williams is the author of Prudence Crandall’s Legacy: The Fight for Equality in the 1830s, Dred Scott, and Brown v. Board of Education . He presented her with a signed copy.

recent arrivals, they think of Norwich as ‘my city,’ and they were on both sides of the issue. Even the following year many students came up to me to continue discussions about the city’s decision.” Fellow social studies teacher Joseph Lewerk, who teaches at Killingly High School, nominated Karen for the National History Teacher of the Year award. “Karen was the first person who came to mind when I saw the call asking for nominees,” he says. “I met her through a Teaching

of one of its own—social studies teacher Karen Cook, who has earned both state and national awards and was named a finalist for this year’s National History Teacher of the Year. Cook, who has taught at NFA since 1998 and now heads the social studies department and honors program, was first inspired to study history as a child growing up in the town of Canterbury, home to New England’s first school for African-American women. The school was established in 1833 by Connecticut’s official state heroine, Prudence Crandall. “As a young person living in Canterbury, learning how the town was so different back then raised many questions for me,” she says. “It made me wonder, ‘How did everything change so much?’” Cook now uses local history to inspire her own students. “We integrate local history into the U.S. history curriculum,” she says. “We look to make connections and encourage students to do independent research related to local history. We do a lot of projects with local history groups.” Every March, NFA students participate in a Women’s History Month Tea that takes place in town, dressing up as famous women from history and giving presentations in character. Cook says that teaching a U.S. history class to English learners recently “was one of the most surprising, rewarding, and enjoyable experiences I’ve had.” She asked students to debate what Norwich should do with a fire-damaged, historical building downtown that some thought needed to be demolished. “I didn’t know if they were going to care about this issue,” she says. “They passionately cared about it. Even though they’re immigrants to the city, some

American History program run out of EASTCONN eight or nine years ago, and I was impressed at the time because she and other NFA teachers had a specific, multi-year project planned.” Later, Lewerk’s own children attended NFA, and his daughter took a class with Cook. “The social studies program was challenging, and my kids got a lot out of it,” he says. “Social studies often gets pushed to the back burner, and it’s really a credit to Karen for running such a stellar program.” Cook agrees that social studies receives less attention than other subjects but believes the tide is turning. “This discipline concentrates on

NFA social studies teacher Karen Cook was first inspired to study history when she learned about Prudence Crandall, the schoolteacher and activist at the center of a book by CEA Executive Director Donald Williams.

teaching critical thinking and problem solving, and those are the skills employers are telling us they want,” she says. “First and foremost, we’re in the business of helping create effective citizens. It’s not enough to know what causes climate change. If you don’t know how lawmaking works, there’s no chance