LPWire: DisneyHand to Offer $1 Million During Teacher Awards

LPWire: DisneyHand to Offer $1 Million During Teacher Awards

The 2004 DisneyHand Teacher Awards to Honor Some of the Country's Best Teachers with Annual Awards Gala and Activities
Disney to Award More Than $1 Million to Teachers and Schools

The Walt Disney Company continues its tradition of honoring some of the most creative, inspiring teachers across the country with the annual DisneyHand Teacher Awards. This year, Disney will recognize 39 talented teachers who were chosen from among 150,000 nominees. DisneyHand will host the 2004 recipients July 22-26, in a four-day extravaganza during which the 39 honorees will be recognized with an awards gala, exclusive VIP parties and a parade down Main Street in Disneyland Park to commemorate their outstanding achievements in the classroom.

This award honors representatives of the teaching profession who construct creative learning environments in which students and teachers alike explore, imagine and engage in a variety of thought-provoking experiences.

The 39 honorees (see finalists' names below) were chosen by a national committee of distinguished educators. On July 25, 2004 the teachers will all be honored at a gala held at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim where four teachers will also be selected by their peers as the Outstanding Elementary School Teacher, Outstanding Middle School Teacher, Outstanding High School Teacher and Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Disney is awarding $10,000 to each of the 39 honorees, and their respective schools will receive $5,000. The four Teachers of the Year will be awarded a total of $25,000.

"These teachers personify excellence in the classroom, and we are pleased to recognize and reward their creativity, commitment and dedication to their profession, students and communities, and provide them an opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices," said Michael D. Eisner, chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company.

The teachers and their principals will also attend a workshop/seminar in October 2004 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where they will share their creative teaching practices, and also develop an action plan focused on improving professional collaboration and teacher learning in their schools during the 2004-2005 school year.

The 2004 honorees were chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives of the following organizations: American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, The Council for American Private Education, Council of Chief State School Officers, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Great City Schools, The Galef Institute, Harvard University's Project Zero, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Education Association, National Middle School Association, and National PTA. In addition, past DisneyHand Teacher Awards honorees serve on the selection committee.

Nominations for the 2005 DisneyHand Teacher Awards will take place from Aug. 15 - Oct. 15, 2004. Teachers can be nominated by students, former students, student's parents, principals, or members of the community by calling 1-877-282-8322, or logging on to www.DisneyHand.com. Nominations will not be accepted before Aug. 15.

Since 1989, Disney has saluted 500 exemplary teachers in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade for innovative teaching methods that actively engage students in learning. The focus of the DisneyHand Teacher Awards is to recognize the teaching profession, showcase creativity in the classroom, and honor those who can assist in developing creative teaching strategies in their school districts.

DisneyHand Teacher Awards is part of the worldwide outreach for The Walt Disney Company, whose mission is dedicated to making the dreams of families and children a reality through public service initiatives, community outreach and volunteerism in areas of learning, compassion, the arts and the environment.

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise which includes Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, ABC, Inc., ESPN, Disney Channel, Disney Stores, television and radio stations and Internet web sites. For more information on Disney's corporate public service efforts, please visit our Web site at www.disneyhand.com.

The Walt Disney Company is pleased to announce these Honorees for the DisneyHand Teacher Awards for 2004

Elementary
--------

Early Childhood
Mrs. Debra Hurst, Austin, TX; Kindergarten
Mrs. Cindy L. Rosser, Anchorage, AK; Kindergarten
Mr. Jeffrey Thompson, Ft. Lewis, WA; Kindergarten

Primary
Mr. Brian Freeman, Red Springs, NC; 2nd Grade
Tammy Haggerty Jones, Sauk Village, IL; 3rd Grade
Mr. Jason Kuhlman, Central Point, OR; 2nd Grade

Intermediate
Mrs. Carol A. Boyer, Elma, WA; 5th Grade
Mr. Robert Garry, Bristol, CT; 5th Grade
Ms. Julie Harris, San Diego, CA; 5th Grade

Middle School
-----------

The Humanities
Mrs. Mellie Hamilton Cope & Mrs. Sally Austin Hundley,
Waynesville, NC; Interdisciplinary Team - Language Arts, NC

History, Math and Science
Ms. K. Casey LaRosa, Montclair, NJ; Social Studies
Mrs. Brigitte Tennis, Redmond, WA; Latin, History, Language Arts, Science, and Math

Math
Mr. John F. Hartzog, Macungie, PA; Math Connections & Pre-Algebra
Mrs. Janet Maguire, Concord, MA; Math
Mr. Claude F. Valle III, Weston, MA; Math

Science
Mr. Hector Ibarra, West Branch, IA; Physical & Earth Sciences
Mrs. Gillian King, Fond du Lac, WI; Life & Earth Sciences
Mr. Warren Phillips, Plymouth, MA; 7th Grade Science & TV Technology

High School
---------

The Humanities
Mr. Danny Magrans, Clarksville, TN; Spanish
Mr. Michael Schaffer, Des Moines, IA; AP Government, AP Comparative Government, AP Macroeconomics, World Civilizations & Humanities
Mrs. Aimee Young, Loudonville, OH; English, US & World History, Holocaust Studies & Creative Writing

Math
Mrs. Darlene Martin, Grafton, WV; Geometry, Algebra and Honors Algebra
Mr. Gary Piercey, Houston, TX; Algebra I & II, Advanced Math, AP Calculus

Science
Mr. Glenn D. Lid, Maywood, IL; Honors & AP Chemistry
Mrs. Pamela Caldwell Vaughan, Fordyce, AR; Biology & Physical Sciences
Mr. Darrell S. Woods, North Canton, OH; Conceptual & AP Physics

Kindergarten through 12th Grade
-----------------------------

Applied Fields
Mr. Charles Boucher, Harrisville, RI; Engineering Design, Biotechnology & 3D Animation
Mr. Jason M. Larison, Holton, KS; Agricultural Education
Mrs. Jane E. Layman, Alverton, PA; Technology, Business Math, Accounting, Law

The Arts
Ms. Liz Gallego, Dallas, TX; High School Dance
Mrs. Susan Menkes, Jericho, NY; K-5 Visual Arts
Mr. Joseph W. Underwood, Miami, FL; High School Television & Media Productions, Filmmaking

Special Needs
Mr. Jason R. Harding, Pittsburgh, PA; Elementary Students with varying exceptionalities
Mr. Robert F. Thomas III, Spring, TX; Middle School students who are Mentally Disabled
Mrs. Gail Janus Kreher, Alpharetta, GA; High School students with learning disabilities

Wellness & Sports
Mrs. Cindy Lou Aillaud, Delta Junction, AK; Kindergarten - 4th Grade Physical Education
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Pumala, Gages Lake, IL; Adapted Physical Education
Mrs. Sue Stinson, Overland Park, KS; Kindergarten - 6th Grade Physical Education

--Posted May 7, 2004
Source: DisneyHand.com