State and school district leaders, colleagues, family and friends gathered at ̽̽ on November 9 to celebrate educators across Vermont at ̽̽’s 42nd annual Outstanding Educators Day. Hosted by the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) and the (AOE), the event honored 76 educators as well as Vermont’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.
“We are honored to have you all here today – friends, colleagues, and family – to join us in recognizing Vermont’s Outstanding Educators for 2022,” said CESS Interim Dean Katharine Shepherd during her opening remarks. Each public Vermont supervisory union or school district was given the opportunity to recognize up to two educators, plus a third educator from their technical center, Shepherd explained. And beginning this year, independent schools with 100 or more students were invited to nominate an outstanding educator.
“The work of teaching has never been more important to our state and our democracy,” said Vermont Secretary of Education Dan French G’14 in his remarks. “Thank you for your service to our schools and our profession.”
French addressed pandemic-related challenges their consequential impact on schools and the teaching workforce over the past two years. “As I started to get back out into schools at the end of the last year, I heard from many teachers that last year was the hardest year ever in their careers,” he said. “You are to be commended for your work for keeping our schools open during this challenging time, but it came at a price. Responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on our schools and our teaching workforce. We are seeing a broader interest in examining a better work-life balance in all professions.”
French noted that a new initiative known as PATH Forward – which will expand wellness programs for faculty and staff in all Vermont school districts – could stand out as a national model if successful.
Introducing Vergennes Union Elementary Physical Education Teacher Robyn Newton ’95 as the , French highlighted Newton's commitment to the wellness of her students, her school, her community, and the teaching profession. In her role as Vermont Teacher of the Year beginning January 1, Newton will serve as an advocate for the teaching profession, education, and students. She will also be Vermont’s candidate for the 2023 National Teacher of the Year award sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Shepherd introduced keynote speaker and 2022 Vermont Teacher of the Year Karen McCalla, Teacher Librarian and Technology Integration Specialist at Mill River Union High School, who encouraged educators to look for ways to amplify and appreciate the hard work that their colleagues are doing. McCalla also reflected on her own experiences and the value of community. “Throughout this journey, I’ve been challenged in my thinking, pushed out of my comfort zones, stretched my understanding, and done things I didn’t think I could do,” she said. “Only through the support of a compassionate, giving, inspirational and supportive community was any of that possible.”
Recipients of the ̽̽ Outstanding Educator Award for 2022 are eligible to apply to be the 2024 Vermont Teacher of the Year. “We need to do more to elevate the importance of the teaching profession,” French said. “Recognitions such as the Outstanding Educator Awards and Vermont Teacher of the Year can help get the word out and inspire those who are working in education as well as the next generation of teachers.”
Following the presentation of awards to the honorees, Shepherd gave special recognition to Ellen Baker, ̽̽’s Director of Educator Licensure Programs, who is retiring in December. Baker's has worked closely with student teachers in higher education for over 25 years. Before joining ̽̽, she served in public schools as a classroom teacher for 34 years, as a literacy coach/coordinator for three years, and as an assistant principal for two years. A previous recipient of the Outstanding Educator Award, Baker served as a member of the Professional Standards Board for Vermont educators and as a co-author of the Five Standards for Vermont Educators.
About the College of Education and Social Services
̽̽'s College of Education and Social Services (CESS) strives to promote a more humane and just society maximizing human potential and the quality of life for all individuals, families and communities. Emphasizing academic quality, experiential learning, community engagement, and inclusive practices, the College prepares students for immediate success and impactful careers in education, social work and human services. CESS faculty and alumni play leading roles in transformative teaching, research, policy development and service in Vermont, across the United States, and around the world.
As one of the nation’s premier PreK-12 teacher education institutions, the CESS Department of Education provides nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate programs distinguished by innovative and rigorous curriculum, nationally prominent faculty, and research-based instructional practices. All programs provide culturally responsive practices, extensive and carefully sequenced field-based experiences, and community-engaged service-learning.
About ̽̽
Since 1791, ̽̽ has worked to move humankind forward. ̽̽’s strengths align with the most pressing needs of our time: the health of our societies and the health of our environment. Our size—large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet intimate enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship across all levels of study—allows us to pursue these interconnected issues through cross-disciplinary research and collaboration. Providing an unparalleled educational experience for our students, and ensuring their success, are at the core of what we do. As one of the nation’s first land grant universities, ̽̽ advances Vermont and the broader society through the discovery and application of new knowledge.
The campus of ̽̽ sits within a place of gathering and exchange, shaped by water and stewarded by ongoing generations of Indigenous peoples, in particular the Western Abenaki.
Acknowledging the relations between water, land, and people is in harmony with the mission of the university.
Acknowledging the serious and significant impacts of our histories on Indigenous peoples and their homelands is a part of the university’s ongoing work of teaching, research, and engagement and an essential reminder of our past and our interconnected futures for the many of us gathered on this land.
̽̽ respects the Indigenous knowledge interwoven in this place and commits to uplifting the Indigenous peoples and cultures present on this land and within our community.
About the Vermont Agency of Education
The implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations to ensure all Vermont learners have equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities. The Agency accomplishes this mission through the provision of its leadership, support, and oversight of Vermont’s public education system.
