.jpg)
Congratulations to
Puyallup School District 2019-20 Teachers of the Year: Debbie
Belvill, Hunt Elementary; Heather Carnine,
Firgrove Elementary, and Brad Jones, Aylen Junior
High.
They were each surprised in front of their
peers recently when the announcement was made. Amid cheers and applause from
their peers, Superintendent Tim Yeomans highlighted why they were chosen for
the honor and presented them with a garden basket of plants.
The Puyallup School Board recognized them at the December 9, 2019 meeting.
The Teacher of the Year award
program is designed to recognize a professional classroom teacher who has made
an outstanding contribution to the education of children. To be eligible for
the nomination a teacher must be employed full-time in a certificated position,
spend at least 50 percent of their time in a classroom setting with students,
and hold a current teaching certificate.
The Teachers of the Year will be
honored by the Puyallup School Board during its regularly scheduled meeting on
December 9 at Ferrucci Junior High at 6:00 pm.
Debbie Belvill, Hunt Elementary (Region 1)
Fourth grade teacher Debbie Belvill is
described as “a mover and a shaker” at Hunt Elementary. Her nomination by
Principal Rebecca Williams says “She is a voice of reason amongst her
colleagues and is able to help move the culture in ways that best support
students.”
Currently in her 19th year at Hunt Elementary,
she has taught second, third, and fourth grades. “I have ‘looped’ with students
four times and loved those opportunities for building deeper relationships with
students and their families,” says Belvill.
Prior to coming to
Puyallup, she taught in Franklin Pierce School District for 11 years at James
Sales Elementary.
When asked what she enjoys most about teaching
Belvill said, “The list is long! I love the kids and the opportunity to play a
part in their growth. I love the moment when I see a child ‘get’ something in
math or laugh at an author’s words, or proudly read their own writing aloud. I
love the feeling of working with others who have the same goals, and the
challenge of working with those who see things from another perspective. I love
the fact that even after doing the same job for almost 30 years, every day is
different.”
Belvill’s family surprised her when they attended
the all-school assembly where her Teacher of the Year award was announced. She
says she was surprised and honored that she was considered for the recognition.
“She does not see her efforts or dedication to the profession as
anything but what all teachers should do for kids. Debbie is quietly awesome in
her practices – she leads when she must – yet she really shines when she’s
helping others grow in their practice.”
Hunt
Elementary Principal Rebecca Williams
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heather Carnine, Firgrove Elementary School (Region 2)
Firgrove Elementary sixth grade teacher
Heather Carnine is described as innovated and committed to making sure that she
does whatever it takes to reach all of her students academically and socially.
She has been an educator for nine years, six
of those in the Puyallup School District at Firgrove. She came to Puyallup
after teaching in Woodland, Washington for three years. She says Woodland is a
small town and it was interesting how the dynamics change from smaller
districts to larger ones.
During her career she has taught fourth,
fifth, and Title I and says her favorite if sixth grade.
“She is a team player and steps up to collaborate effectively
with her team.” Former Assistant Principal Jeannine Medvedich
Carmine says one of her favorite things about
teaching are the relationships with students and the real-life conversations
they have. “My favorite times are when you get to be the person who makes them
laugh or smile, particularly with the kids who don’t get to do those two things
often enough.”
The Teacher of the Year surprise announcement
came during the Firgrove Veterans Assembly with students, staff, and community
members in the audience. She says she is very honored to receive the award,
especially since she works with some of the best teachers ever!
“My teammates are some of the most loving, dedicated and
hard-working teachers that I know.”
Firgrove
Elementary teacher Heather Carmine
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brad Jones, Aylen
Junior High (Region 3)
Brad Jones is described as a mentor, a team
player who is willing to help, and a teacher who develops incredible rapport
with his students.
He has been teaching science and math at Aylen
Junior High for 29 years. He has served as a football and basketball
coach and as the building Athletic Director for several years.
Jones was surprised in front of his peers
recently when he learned he had been chosen as this year’s Region 3 Teacher of
the Year.
His nomination for Teacher of the Year credits
Jones with helping scores of students to improve their academic standing in
Algebra so they can pass and earn credit. Aylen Principal Kevin Mensonides said
Jones has helped reduce the failure rate in Algebra at Aylen to almost zero.
“He works incredibly well with staff, has a soft spot for
disadvantaged students, and has been incredibly effective in supporting
struggling students.”
Aylen
Principal Kevin Mensonides