Three Colonial School District educators were recently recognized by a variety of organizations. They are:
Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association Teacher of the Year
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (PWHS) Spanish Teacher Rich Madel was named the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA) Teacher of the Year in October. Madel, a former Master Teacher, is now a finalist for the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Teacher of the Year Award that will be determined in February.
The awards are part of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Teacher of the Year program, which intends to elevate the status and public profile of the language profession at the state, regional and national levels by creating opportunities to recognized accomplished members of the language profession.
“I am honored and excited to have received this award,” Madel said. “I’ve worked extensively with our state organization in a variety of capacities, and these experiences have reinforced time and again the caliber of world language educators throughout the state of Pennsylvania. There is an obvious and consistent commitment among them to engage the classroom with research-based practices that develop language proficiency and challenge ours students to engage with complex cultural perspectives.
“For that reason, it is humbling to be recognized among such an impressive group of professionals and I look forward to continuing to hold myself to the standards that have been set by those around me,” he added.
In 2017, the PWHS World Languages Department was recognized as one of the best in the Commonwealth when it received a Silver Globe Award from the PSMLA.
In top left image Madel (right) is pictured with Vice President of PSMLA Vice President John Grande (left).
Pennsylvania’s 2018 School Psychologist of the Year
Dr. Cait Gilmartin, who has served as the School Psychologist at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School for three years, was recently awarded the title of Pennsylvania’s 2018 School Psychologist of the Year by the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP). Dr. Gilmartin was also named to the ASPP Board this past summer.
“I am most looking forward to the opportunity to continue to lead by example in the best practices we use in the Colonial School District, exchange information and resources with other districts across the state and be a key advocate at the state level in promoting the most effective ways to support students,” said Dr. Gilmartin.
In addition to working in the area of Crisis Prevention and Intervention in school and community settings, Dr. Gilmartin has taught the subject at the graduate level and engaged in research that led to co-authoring a white paper for the state of Pennsylvania on Universal Screening for Mental Health and co-editing a research newsletter on suicide prevention and intervention from 2009-2017.
In top image, Dr. Gilmartin is pictured top right.
Conshohocken VFW Post 1074 Teacher of the Year
During Veterans Day ceremonies at Conshohocken Elementary School, First Grade Teacher Kim Carter was named Teacher of the Year by the Conshohocken VFW Post 1074.
The VFW awards local, regional and national teacher of the year awards on the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Carter is now eligible for the statewide competition.
As the winner, Carter received a $150 VISA gift card, a $25 gift certificate for Deli on Fourth, two social memberships to the VFW post and a plaque.
In top image (bottom right): (L to R): Walt Hauk (Marine Corp), Alex Lassoff (Army), Kim Carter, Walt Hartnett (Army).
Photos: All photos from Colonial School District.