One common thread, in particular, is excellent classroom teachers, according to Snider – and he should know. Snider has seen literally thousands of teacher nominations come in the mail and from the Internet for the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards program, the longest running, privately sponsored teacher recognition program in the state.
“Two people made special comments on their nomination forms this year that have reinforced the goal of our program to recognize excellent classroom teachers,” said Snider. “Our program helps to thank those educators who are making a real difference in our children’s lives.”
Follansbee resident Bobbie DiBattista nominated Erin Ankrum, a teacher at Follansbee Middle School. “She is a truly wonderful teacher,” said DiBattista. “She has taught my three children over a period of 20 years. She doesn’t stop working when the school bell rings.
“In fact, my 20-year-old son, who is in college, still calls Mrs. Ankrum for assistance with math questions,” DiBattista reports. “She is always there for her students – 24/7. She also is involved in many before and after school activities that require her to donate even more of her personal time to helping students.
“My 20-plus years of first-hand experience in dealing with Mrs. Ankrum has given me insight into all the factors that go into making her a gifted teacher,” says DiBattista.
Says Ankrum, who guide’s her school’s Math Counts and Math Field Day programs, “Teaching reaches into your soul in a way no other job can. It is a life-long, rewarding experience that requires strength, endurance, flexibility, and, above all, compassion. Teaching is always an adventure.”
Another notable nomination was made by student Lexie Baily of her Madison Elementary School fifth grade teacher Tina Craddock. Miss Bailey wrote, “Even though she’s been sick, she still makes school fun along with learning. She always thinks of us first. I would like to thank her and think of her first. She is great!”
Vicky Bailey, Lexie’s mother, says Craddock has been both an inspiration to her students and to all those who know her as a decidedly professional classroom teacher.
“Mrs. Craddock makes learning fun for her students,” Bailey says. “There are many evenings at our dinner table that Lexie tells us how much she has learned from Mrs. Craddock that day.”
Craddock also gets praise from her principal, Patricia Conaway. “Tina is a wonderful teacher,” says Conaway. “She’s also our building’s technology leader and expert. When our county wants teachers to learn how best to teach new math techniques – what we call the investigative method – they are sent to Mrs. Craddock’s classroom to observe.”
Craddock says she stresses the importance of education to her students. “Teaching is my passion,” she says. “I enjoy going to work every day. I’m honored to have been nominated.”
The Arch Coal teacher recognition program is underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation. The foundation will accept public nominations of deserving classroom teachers for this year’s awards until Jan. 9, 2009. Upon receipt of a nomination by Arch Coal, the teacher is immediately sent an application, which must be completed by Feb. 20, 2009 for this year’s program. The applications are then judged by a panel of other teachers, comprised of past recipients of the award.
Nomination forms are available in schools and public libraries throughout the state. Nominations also may be made online at archteacheawards.com.
This year, 12 outstanding West Virginia teachers will receive $3,500 personal, cash awards from the Arch Coal Foundation. In addition, the West Virginia Education Association’s (WVEA) foundation, the West Virginia Foundation for the Improvement of Education, awards a $1,000 grant for use with at-risk students to each public school recipient’s school.
The teacher recognition program has received long-time support from the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Library Commission, the Office of the Governor Joe Manchin and the WVEA.
Arch Coal is one of the nation’s largest coal producers. Through its national network of mines, Arch supplies the fuel for approximately 6 percent of the electricity generated in the United States. Arch Coal subsidiaries operate the Mountain Laurel, Sharples, and Coal-Mac, Holden, mining complexes. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.
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