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AAE-NWPE Member Selected as Idaho Teacher of the Year
posted by: Ruthie | December 10, 2012, 05:24 PM   

Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), AAE's state chapter serving teachers in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, is proud to announce that member educator Katie Pemberton has been selected as the 2013 Idaho Teacher of the Year.

katie.pembertonIn addition to working as an adjunct professor at Lewis-Clark State College, Katie is a mathematics teacher at Canfield Middle School in Coeur d'Alene. While she is only in her eighth year of teaching, she has already proved outstanding, winning the 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in mathematics and Science Teaching.

State Superintendent Tom Luna congratulated Katie stating, "Despite being young in her career, Pemberton has stood out as an excellent teacher." He continued, "She doesn't shy away from working with at-risk students and is always looking for new, innovative strategies to help every child learn."

At Canfield Middle School, Katie is notorious for investing extra time in students, embracing technology, and engaging students. Kallen Langley, one of Pemberton's colleagues said, "She even turns to technology to keep teaching when absent. When we have subs, she'll make a video in the classroom teaching the lesson." 

"She's just very kind and soft-spoken," added student Megan McPhee, one of the many children Pemberton meets with before school for extra help.

As Idaho Teacher of the Year, Pemberton hopes to focus on increasing the use of technology in the classroom. She also desires to encourage more ambitious individuals to go into teaching, and thus building more respect for the teaching profession.

"Ms. Pemberton is an asset to the profession, to Northwest Professional Educators, and the entire non-union teacher movement," stated NWPE Executive Director Cindy Omlin. "Katie is a true professional whose commitment to students and advancing educators as professionals is truly inspiring."

Superintendent Hazel Bauman echoed Omlin's sentiment. "Katie is the consummate professional. She puts hours and hours into her planning and preparation and it shows," Bauman stressed. "The kids are highly engaged. The lessons are at a very high level of cognition, so kids are straining their brains. And consequently the learning is amazing."

As Teacher of the Year, Katie received $1,000 from the Idaho State Department of Education, as well as an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent Idaho as a nominee for the National Teacher of the Year award.

"This is the most amazing profession," Pemberton said as she accepted the award. She looked at her students and continued, "You inspire me each and every day. It's an honor to collaborate with my colleagues in Coeur d'Alene and the state to bring new and innovative ideas to our students."

The Association of American Educators and Northwest Professional Educators would like to congratulate Katie on a job well done. We are proud to support you! Good luck in the national competition!

Please join us in congratulating Katie!

Comment below.


Comments (1)Add Comment
Teacher
written by Sally, ID, December 10, 2012

Congrats, Katie! I'm so proud!

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