Bright fall sunshine marked the late afternoon celebration in Ira Allen Chapel on The University of Vermont green, shining on the recipients of the 30^th annual celebration of the Outstanding Teachers of 2010.  Over eighty teachers from elementary, middle, high schools, and technical centers from across the state were nominated by their colleagues, principals, and superintendents for the award.  On Wednesday, October 20^, 2010 the award recipients and their friends and family were invited to attend a special reception and ceremony on campus where Fayneese Miller, Dean of College of Education & Social Services, recognized the teachers for their exemplary service.

This annual celebration of Vermont’s best and brightest teachers was a special occasion for many reasons.  U.S. Senator, Bernie Sanders addressed the audience of teachers, their families, friends, principals, superintendents, and members of the Burlington, and UVM community who gathered in Ira Allen Chapel to mark the special occasion.  Senator Sanders championed the work of teachers in the state who contribute to making Vermont a leader in the nation in many education initiatives.  Senator Sanders offered his support in continuing work of passing thoughtful education reform that seeks to address many of the challenges and obstacles to success that teachers face everyday in their classrooms all over the state, and the nation.  Senator Sanders thanked the teachers present for the dedication to the profession and all the hard work and long hours they put in everyday advocating and advancing the quality of education received by students in the state of Vermont.

Also marking the special occasion, Professor Emeritus, Charles Rathbone, Associate Dean, Janet Bossange, Graduate Student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program, Xavier De Frietas and Senior Secondary Education student, Kathleen Bukley marked the 151^st birthday of education philosopher and UVM graduate, John Dewey.  Professor Rathbone gave a brief biographical account of John Dewey’s life and legacy and his importance to the field of education.  Professor Rathbone, Associate Dean Bossange, Mr. De Frietas and Ms. Buckley took turns sharing a few meaningful quotes regarding education, and at the conclusion Professor Rathbone lead the audience in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to John Dewey who is buried across the way from Ira Allen Chapel on the University Green.

As the ceremony continued, further remarks were made by Rae Ann Knop, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Education and Martha Allen, President of the Vermont National Education Association, who challenged the remarkable teachers to continue their good work by becoming mentors for new teachers helping to ensure a new generation of Vermont teachers continues to receive support and encouragement to succeed.

Vermont’s 2010 Teacher of the Year, Mr. Craig Divis, a social studies teacher at Bellows Fall Union High School, spoke passionately, encouraging the 2010 Outstanding Teacher recipients to continue their hard work in challenging their students to act locally and think globally.  Mr. Divis spoke of his experiences in Washington at the Vermont Teacher of the Year advocating the importance of foreign language education—and the inclusion of instruction in languages beyond Spanish, French and German; emphasizing the need in instruction in Asian languages such as Chinese and Korean and the need to begin this education early in childhood development.  He spoke to the need to “globalize education in all aspects,” with more classes being “globally-based,” and encouraged more study abroad experiences and more international teacher exchange programs that offer further development opportunities for teachers.

“We are doing a great injustice to our youth if we do not prepare them for the world as it is today and how it will be in the future.  This is our challenge—either we choose to meet it head on, or it will be our students who will be the ones left behind.”

Mr. Divis, Ms. Knopf, and Ms. Allen all gave hearty congratulations to the award recipients.  Dean Miller echoed the calls to action of the previous speakers before turning over the microphone to Ellen Baker, Director of Teacher Education Programs who read the names and brief biographies of each of the awarded teachers who received certificates and had their photos taken with Dean Miller.

After all the names were read there was a hearty applause that echoed through the Ira Allen Chapel and a final congratulatory buzz fell over the crowd as the 30^th Annual Outstanding Teacher Day ceremony came to a close.

For a complete list of the 2010 Outstanding Teacher recipients click here: http://www.uvm.edu/~cess/news/?Page=otd.html