Tina is a tireless professional who strives for excellence in all she does and is dedicated to personal and professional growth. As an educator she was gifted with the ability to create unit and lesson plans that were engaging and relevant to students. Her efforts earned her the admiration of her students and colleagues. Not content with a free standing educational experience she actively sought out cross-curricular experiences for her students. I was able to collaborate with her in numerous activities that united the ninth and tenth grade Social Studies experiences with the English language arts activities. We were able to collaborate on a unit of study that integrated the literary analysis of Romeo and Juliet with the historical narrative of the Renaissance. Tina’s classroom was set up to foster learning, inspire curiosity and make students feel comfortable. The way she used the physical space of her classroom and interacted with her students created a student centered environment founded on honesty and mutual respect. This atmosphere allowed students to take academic risks and take part in innovative activities that allowed students to express their learning in creative ways. Tina was also an active participant in the development and implementation of new academic programs. She was instrumental in designing and implementing an alternative education program for students significantly at risk for dropping out. She coordinated the implementation of this new program and took on the significant burden of teaching a very challenging population which she did so with grace and determination. She proved resilient in negotiating with various stakeholders and was able to build consensus within the district administration for investing long-term in the program. Tina was, and continues to be, a true professional dedicated to academic, professional and personal growth.

Tina is a tireless professional who strives for excellence in all she does and is dedicated to personal and professional growth. As an educator she was gifted with the ability to create unit and lesson plans that were engaging and relevant to students. Her efforts earned her the admiration of her students and colleagues. Not content with a free standing educational experience she actively sought out cross-curricular experiences for her students. I was able to collaborate with her in numerous activities that united the ninth and tenth grade Social Studies experiences with the English language arts activities. We were able to collaborate on a unit of study that integrated the literary analysis of Romeo and Juliet with the historical narrative of the Renaissance. Tina’s classroom was set up to foster learning, inspire curiosity and make students feel comfortable. The way she used the physical space of her classroom and interacted with her students created a student centered environment founded on honesty and mutual respect. This atmosphere allowed students to take academic risks and take part in innovative activities that allowed students to express their learning in creative ways. Tina was also an active participant in the development and implementation of new academic programs. She was instrumental in designing and implementing an alternative education program for students significantly at risk for dropping out. She coordinated the implementation of this new program and took on the significant burden of teaching a very challenging population which she did so with grace and determination. She proved resilient in negotiating with various stakeholders and was able to build consensus within the district administration for investing long-term in the program. Tina was, and continues to be, a true professional dedicated to academic, professional and personal growth.

Tina is a tireless professional who strives for excellence in all she does and is dedicated to personal and professional growth. As an educator she was gifted with the ability to create unit and lesson plans that were engaging and relevant to students. Her efforts earned her the admiration of her students and colleagues. Not content with a free standing educational experience she actively sought out cross-curricular experiences for her students. I was able to collaborate with her in numerous activities that united the ninth and tenth grade Social Studies experiences with the English language arts activities. We were able to collaborate on a unit of study that integrated the literary analysis of Romeo and Juliet with the historical narrative of the Renaissance. Tina’s classroom was set up to foster learning, inspire curiosity and make students feel comfortable. The way she used the physical space of her classroom and interacted with her students created a student centered environment founded on honesty and mutual respect. This atmosphere allowed students to take academic risks and take part in innovative activities that allowed students to express their learning in creative ways. Tina was also an active participant in the development and implementation of new academic programs. She was instrumental in designing and implementing an alternative education program for students significantly at risk for dropping out. She coordinated the implementation of this new program and took on the significant burden of teaching a very challenging population which she did so with grace and determination. She proved resilient in negotiating with various stakeholders and was able to build consensus within the district administration for investing long-term in the program. Tina was, and continues to be, a true professional dedicated to academic, professional and personal growth.