Radio KONP’s Todd Ortloff and Cari Stricker of Umpqua Bank (formerly Sterling Bank) in Port Angeles recently surprised Sequim Middle School teacher Shannon Palsek during a professional development meeting for teaching staff to announce she is Educator of the Month for May in the KONP Radio-Sterling Bank recognition program.
Palsek joins Sequim High School teacher Larry Hill, also a math teacher, in receiving this honor during May (see below). In photo, Ortloff and Stricker join Palsek and Sequim Middle School principal Tom Anderson.
Sterling Bank joined with KONP Radio and the Port Angeles School District two years ago as a sponsor in the 4-year-old recognition program and awards each recipient with a gift card. KONP features the awardee’s nomination and award in announcements throughout the month on KONP 1450 AM.
“She is amazing at explaining math concepts and is patient when we don’t understand,” one nomination letter reads. “One thing I really like is she splits the class into groups. She groups us with kids that are at about the same learning level, so we can all help each other. She also lets us work in partners a lot so that we can compare daily work or homework answers. She is such a great teacher. I want to be in her class forever!”
Hill earns a nod
Stricker also surprised Sequim High School teacher Larry Hill during a staff meeting to announce he is Educator of the Month in the KONP Radio-Sterling Bank recognition program.
Among Hill’s nomination comments was this: “Mr. Hill is deserving of this reward because he does more than simply teach math. He shows the real world applications and how it affects us in everyday life. Before taking his class, I was good at math but now I am fascinated by it. He showed me how it is crucial to our society and all the different ways it can be used.”
Sterling Bank joined with KONP Radio and the Port Angeles School District two years ago as a sponsor in the 4-year-old recognition program and awards each recipient with a gift card. KONP features the awardee’s nomination and award in announcements throughout the month on KONP 1450 AM.
The Educator of the Month program is planned and organized with the help of local students, staff and community members. Nominations for featured teachers in the Port Angeles, Sequim and Crescent school districts, plus Queen of Angels and Olympic Christian Schools, were solicited during October and November, and are announced monthly by Todd Ortloff from KONP Radio and Cari Stricker throughout the school year.
Cindy Rogers, Lincoln High School paraeducator, was the KONP-Sterling Bank Educator of the Month for December 2013. Crescent School District teacher Helen Lastovica was Educator of the Month for January. February-March Educator of the Month was awarded to Allison Evans, Port Angeles High School English Language Learner teacher, followed by fourth-grade Hamilton Elementary teacher Helen Bunch who received the honor in March. Port Angeles High School teacher business teacher Lisa Joslin was honored in late April.
