Latest news with #TeacherAppreciation
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Couldn't have a bad day with her;' Local school district mourning teacher's aide killed in crash
A Miami Valley school district started National Teacher Appreciation Week by mourning one of their own. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30 p.m., Jennifer Korleski, a Teacher's Aide at Tippecanoe Middle School, was killed in a three-vehicle crash on I-75 on May 4. TRENDING STORIES: 15-year-old without license caught driving over 100 miles per hour in Dayton Deputy shoots, kills 2 dogs after being charged at 1 person hospitalized after crash in Dayton Korleski's Mother and Sister told News Center 7's Amber Jenkins that her love for her students went beyond the classroom. 'And she fought for every one of her students. She got one out of a bad situation. And in the notebook, there was one that said, 'You were the only teacher who listened to me and helped me',' Doris Mangels, Korleski's mother, said. In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 4, Korleski died in a multi-vehicle crash on I-75 in Miami County, as previously reported by News Center 7. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash, but Mangels had a message for one of the drivers involved. 'The poor guy who she struck thinks he's the one who killed her. And I want that straight, he didn't,' Mangels said. Korleski worked in Education for five years. She had just completed her second year at Tippecanoe Middle School as a Teacher's Aide. It was her happy place because she was able to shape young futures, according to her mother and sister. Her family also said it was Korleski's unique spirit that made her stand out. 'You couldn't have a bad day with her. If you had a bad day, she'll brighten it up,' Mangels said. Her students wrote notes expressing how much she meant to them and how much she'll be missed. One student even drew a picture for her, with the hopes of giving it to her at the start of National Teacher Appreciation Week. Korleski's family said the support from students shows the impact she had. 'I was so proud of her. I'm proud of her, but I'm even more proud, she was such an amazing person. And I'm discovering what a great person she was,' Mangels said. When Korleski is laid to rest, her family requests that everyone wear vibrant colored clothes and to exchange bracelets. 'Her colors are picked out as crazy and wacky like her. I think she would be so sad if it was a depressing setting. We know this will be hard for people,' Stephanie Korleski, Korleski's sister, said. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teacher Appreciation Week: Former, current CCSD educators thankful for support
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated across the U.S., including in the Las Vegas valley, highlighting the importance of educators who shape young minds. During this week, educators are recognized for their dedication and impact on students' lives. 8 News Now spoke with current and former teachers from the Clark County School District (CCSD) to discuss the challenges they face and the enduring love they have for their profession. Dana Utzinger, a fourth-grade teacher, shared her experience of receiving a letter from a parent expressing gratitude and appreciation for her transparency and dedication. 'It is about building those relationships to let parents and students know that we have been there, we know the struggles you are going through,' Utzinger said. Allan Mamaclay, a former CCSD teacher, expressed concerns about the reduction in teacher autonomy over the past several years. 'We had a lot of teacher autonomy, and I think in the last 7 years it became scripted,' Mamaclay said. Nellie Gazmen, another fourth-grade teacher, expressed her desire for the trust and support to teach without excessive testing. 'It took a lot of the fun away from the kids, too, where it's testing and read this and do this,' Gazmen said. The teachers also discussed the issue of salaries, with Utzinger highlighting the disparity between her qualifications and her pay. 'I mean, I have two master's degrees, and I am gold certified in teaching, I'm still not at the level of pay I should be,' she stated. Despite the challenges, the teachers emphasized the importance of appreciation beyond monetary compensation. 'It feels nice this week, you know, the extra lunches, the free time, the treats,' Gazmen mentioned. Teacher Appreciation Week serves as a reminder of the vital role educators play in shaping the future, and the community is encouraged to show gratitude through gestures such as gift cards, flowers, or notes. DonorsChoose is a nonprofit organization that connects teachers with donors to fund specific classroom projects. The three teachers 8 News Now spoke to added that despite the challenges they face, the love for education and children keeps them in the classroom. All facts from this article were gathered by KLAS journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KLAS staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gallery: Kool Vibes Pizza and Wings Teacher's Appreciation Week Annual Give Back
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Check out the pictures from the Kool Vibes Pizza and Wings Teacher's Appreciation Week Annual Give Back! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Schools across Erie celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week
Teachers throughout the United States are getting extra praise this week during Teacher Appreciation Week. The Millcreek Township School District has been showing its gratitude for teachers. Penn State Behrend turns trash into treasure They've had raffles, food deliveries throughout the week, and have gotten plenty of kind notes from students and parents giving thanks to the work that they do. One teacher explained that they truly care about the growth of their kids. Orphan Angels offers new services thanks to HQ remodel 'The thing that makes me feel most appreciated is when the students are engaged and can demonstrate what they're learning, especially in a real-world situation,' said Kevin Jefferys, an English teacher at McDowell High School. 'Teachers are here because we want to be here. This is our profession and calling. It's important to us, and we wouldn't be here if we didn't want to be here. It's a good message for anyone about why we do what we do. We're here for students,' said Laura Oathoute, special education teacher at McDowell High School. Students even decorated the sidewalk of the school with chalk, sharing kind words for teachers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
412 ECISD teachers earn Teacher Incentive Allotment awards
ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – Ector County ISD leaders wrapped up Teacher Appreciation Week by delivering big checks to teachers who earned a designation in the state's Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program. The number of teachers and the amount of money awarded grew for the fourth straight year, with 412 teachers earning more than $4.6 million compared to the 353 teachers and $3.1 million a year ago. This year the teachers represent 40 ECISD schools, and their individual awards range from $3,425 to $22,559. Friday morning, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keeley Boyer visited five schools and hosted an ECISD Live broadcast and media event at Blackshear Elementary where 16 teachers were recognized, 4 of them having earned the highest designation, Master level. 'This is one of the best days of the year,' said ECISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keeley Boyer. 'We get to celebrate a lot of teachers, 412 of them. We are proud to see more of our teachers getting this recognition from the state each year. It shows that more of our teachers are having a positive impact on students.' The Teacher Incentive Allotment was created by the Texas Legislature in 2019, as part of House Bill 3, to provide a realistic pathway for top teachers to earn six-figure salaries and to help attract and retain highly effective teachers at traditionally hard-to-staff schools. The allotment amount per teacher is based on the level of academic growth their students attained, teacher instructional performance, and the percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students at their school. There are three levels for which a teacher in Texas can qualify: Recognized, Exemplary and Master. In ECISD, 147 teachers are Recognized (compared to 175 a year ago), 149 are Exemplary (up from 128 a year ago), and 111 are at the Master level (up from 50 a year ago). The numbers show that not only are more teachers earning designations but teachers are improving, too, leveling up from Recognized to Exemplary to Master. Teaching is in Samantha Hudson's DNA. Her mom was an educator and both of her grandparents on both sides of the family were teachers. The 4th grade teacher at Blackshear Elementary, leveled up two steps from Recognized to Master earning an incentive of more than $22,000. As she spoke to reporters after the presentation she said, 'My heart is still racing. This feels amazing, it really is such an honor. It reminds me I make a difference in the livesof my kids.' She called the incentive 'life changing' and plans to use it for a down payment on a new house. Not only does a qualifying teacher receive the TIA incentive dollars, they also have the Recognized, Exemplary or Master designation placed on their teaching certificate. The designation remains in place for five began the rigorous TIA application process in 2019. The teacher's data is collected for one year, then verified by Texas Tech University and reviewed by the Texas Education Agency. The monetary awards are then dispersed the following year. In this fourth year of TIA payouts, eligible ECISD teachers are Kindergarten through 8th grade English Language Arts; Math, English I, English II, and Algebra I; PreK-4; 3rd grade through 8th grade Science, Biology, US History (8th grade and high school), and Advanced Placement English III, English IV, US History, Government, Economics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology . ECISD adds additional subjects to eligibilityeach year. Staci Walton, history teacher at New Tech Odessa, earned a Master level designation. After receiving the news, she was emotional as she thanked her students and her mother.'As I always tell you [students], we are not just individuals we are a…family,' Ms. Walton said. 'This is not possible without you. Thank you. And to my mother, thank you, thank you. This is an early Mother's Day present.' 30 teachers earned incentives of $20,000 or more. 5 schools have more than 20 teachers whoearned incentives. The highest campus total is Murry Fly Elementary where the 22 teachers earned a combined total of $304,457. 'And this is not a gift,' Dr. Boyer added. 'This is something these teachers earned with their hard work and dedication and the check goes directly to them. We are excited for them, proud of them, and thank them for serving students so well.' Read more about Teacher Incentive Allotment in ECISD at and more from the state at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
