Dr. David Hopson
I spoke briefly at the district’s annual budget hearing about changes in academic courses and the fact that the high school has provided additional opportunities through online educational programs. I was also quick to point out that, while online courses provided offerings we couldn’t possibly provide at our small high school, they are not a panacea to providing an education at a lower cost. My belief is that there is currently no technological replacement for having an actual teacher interacting with students, be that in the classroom, the lunchroom, recess, the hallway, advisory, in extra and co-curricular activities, and in the 101 ways in which teachers (and other staff members) create a learning environment that simply cannot be duplicated online. The communication, collaboration, care and respect, and as I said at the public hearing, the feeling of family is what makes a good academic setting a great environment for learning and helps to prepare children for a successful role as they move through life.
I am also convinced that the educational community that we call Gateway is also a special and rather unique place due to the concern expressed and shown by students, staff, parents and our communities towards each other and the process of learning. We occasionally face difficult days and many challenges related to meeting the needs of students; we struggle to make our educational philosophy work under the many mandates of the state and federal government; and we certainly have differences of opinions regarding funding, setting and reaching goals, and how to run the district. But, despite all of this, our staff tend to stay in the district for years, often working with the children of former students; our students do well both while in the district and upon graduating in many different ways; and despite the fact that we don’t fit the idealized model of the state’s funding formula, we still manage to move on and provide for the needs of our students and their families.
I strongly believe that our staff are the key to our successes and I am very glad that we are able to recognize some outstanding educators each year through the Grinspoon Foundation’s “Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award” program. As you may recall from prior years, the criteria for this award is a combination of working with students in the classroom and school, in collaborating effectively with other staff and administration, and in going above and beyond meeting student and family needs both within and beyond the typical school day. Certified staff are nominated by other staff members each year and Gateway’s leadership team faces the difficult challenge of picking just three people to move forward in the process. These individuals join many other teachers from other districts in an awards dinner and ceremony and receive a number of very nice items for their distinguished service to students.
I am pleased to announce Gateway’s recipients of the 2013 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards are Gail Gringas and Susan Rhoades from the Littleville Elementary School, and Avery Lavigueur from the High School. These three individuals are great exemplars of what the award is meant to recognize and their work in the district has been a boon to students, families, and the greater community. Each of them are richly deserving of this recognition. While all of our staff and administrators are also deserving of recognition for the good work they do with our children, all are an integral part of making Gateway what it is, and all should have our appreciation for the hard work and dedication they provide to the district, I applaud and support this special recognition that these three individuals are receiving this year. If you get a chance, please join me in showing your appreciation and congratulations on being an outstanding teacher to Gail Gingras, Susan Rhoades and Avery Lavigueur!
