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On Thursday, April 29, 2010 the Apache County Superintendents Office hosted its 5th Annual Educator of the year awards banquet in Sander’s Valley High School Cafeteria.  There were about forty people in attendance ranging from teachers, administrators, and school board members, as well as, Apache County elected officials and staff.  The keynote speech, “Healthier Kids Learn Better,”  was given by Donna Moore, a 2010 Ambassador of Excellence from the Arizona Educational Foundation.

We would like to acknowledge all of the exceptional nominees in the 2010 Administrator of the Year category.   This year’s nominees for Administrator of the Year were:

  • Assistant Principal from St. Johns High School, Mr. David Bradshaw
  • Principal from St. Johns Middle School, Mr. Ed Burgoyne
  • Principal from Chinle Elementary, Dr. Victor Benally
  • Principal/ Superintendent from Alpine School, Mr. Michael Cox
  • Principal from Ganado Intermediate School, Dr. Jaime Castellano
  • Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at Window Rock Unified District Office, Mrs. Sharon Singer
  • Director  of Curriculum and Instruction at Sanders Unified District Office, Ms. Mindy Porter
  • Principal from Valley High School, Mr. Kevin Cashatt, his school hosted our banquet.

This year’s competition for Administrator of the year was incredibly hard to just pick one winner.  We have such wonderful administrators serving our students throughout  Apache County!  So, to pick just one from these excellent applicants was too hard a task.  We created a distinguished administrator award and we have two administrators in this category:

  • distinguished administrator of the year, is awarded to the Principal from St. Johns Middle School, Mr. Ed Burgoyne from southern Apache County.
  • An our other distinguished administrator of the year is awarded to the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at Window Rock Unified District Office, Mrs. Sharon Singer, from northern Apache County.

In the category of Administrator of the year, we also had two winners:

  • The Principal/ Superintendent from Alpine School, Mr. Michael Cox is our 2010 Administrator of the Year, for the southern part of Apache County.
  • And, the Principal from Ganado Intermediate School, Dr. Jaime Castellano is our Northern Apache County winner, for the Administrator of the Year 2010.

The 2010 teacher of the year nominees included:

  • Kindergarten Teacher from Canyon de Chelly Elementary School, Mrs. Ruth Jones
  • Second grade Teacher from St. Johns Elementary School, Mrs. Meg Roberston
  • Second grade Teacher from Tse’hootsooi’ Elementary School, Mrs. Lula Bia
  • Third grade Teacher from Tse’hootsooi Elementary School, Mrs. Betty Moore
  • 7th & 8th grade Math Teacher from St. Johns Middle School, Mrs. Lorena Reynolds
  • 7th & 8th grade Teacher from Concho Elementary School, Mrs. Lorie Whittemore
  • Special Education Teacher from Concho Elementary School, Mr. Dave Seipp
  • Sophomore English Teacher from St. Johns High School, Mrs. Andrea Borg
  • 9th & 10th grade English Teacher from Valley High School, Mr. Brandon Tauscher
  • Chemistry Teacher from Valley High School, Mr. Harold Portlock

Two teachers were awarded with an exemplary teacher plaques they are:

  • 7th & 8th grade Teacher from Concho Elementary School, Mrs. Lorie Whittemore
  • 9th & 10th grade English Teacher from Valley High School, Mr. Brandon Tauscher

And our 2010 Teacher of the Year Award winner is:

  • Third grade Teacher from Tse’hootsooi Elementary School, Mrs. Betty Moore.

Our winners each received a beautifully illustrated book from Salina Bookshelf in Flagstaff, donated by Paulita Kewanwytewa. They also received a $20 gift certificate for dinner from the Branding Iron Steakhouse in Show Low.  Betty Moore received a polished rock with silver accent beads earrings and necklace set, donated by Gabie Romero.

The 5th Annual Educator of the Year Awards banquet was a success, a big thank you goes out to the Sanders Unified School District for hosting and catering this event.

Click link to watch video.