* Jackie Fernandez, biology teacher at Oakton High School, has been named the recipient of the 2008 Outstanding New Biology Teacher Achievement Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT). 

Fernandez was recognized by FCPS last year for the outstanding performance of her English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) Biology 1 class on the 2007 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) exams; all 22 of her students passed the test, and seven students passed at the advanced level.

In addition to the responsibility of teaching six classes last year, Fernandez served as sponsor of the class of 2011, the Octagon Club, and the Science Olympiad team and mentored another new teacher. (view press release)

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* Ann Erickson, art resource teacher at Armstrong, was awarded an ING Unsung Heroes® Award and a $2,000 grant to incorporate thinking skills into her school's curricula using ThinkBlocks. Erickson's project is one of 20 across the country honored with an ING Unsung Heroes Award. Erickson is also a finalist for grants of $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000 offered by the financial services company. ING Unsung Heroes® awards are given annually to "educators with class projects that are short on funding but long on potential." (view press release)

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* Soussan Bayati, cosmetology instructor at Edison Academy, has been honored as Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Association of Trade and Industrial Educators. She received the award in August at the organization's annual conference in Roanoke.

Bayati has taught cosmetology at Edison Academy since 1997. She was honored by her colleagues for her dedication to student achievement and success. In the past three years, all her students have successfully passed the Virginia State Board examination in Cosmetology. Because Bayati prepares her students well and they successfully pass the state board examination, her students leave Edison Academy prepared to work as professionally licensed cosmetologists in the state of Virginia.
She and her students have also established a unique partnership with Key Center, and she has been an active sponsor for the Academy's SkillsUSA chapter. (view press release)

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* Arlene Rosenbusch, fourth grade gifted and talented teacher at Mosby Woods, was named the 2008 SCORE! Teacher of the Year for the state of Virginia in June. Nominated by one of her students through an essay, Rosenbusch was selected from over 2,000 entries.

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* This summer Pat Sheehy, principal at Fox Mill, Tonya Cox, principal at Gunston, and Diane Drews, foreign language high school specialist at Leis Center, participated in a two week educators' tour of Japan that was sponsored by the Japan Foundation. Twenty-five educators from across the United States were invited. The purpose of the program was to deepen understanding of Japanese-language education, expand and improve Japanese-language education at the primary and secondary levels, and to create a network of educators between the U.S. and Japan.

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* Sue Duncan (left in photo), advanced placement coordinator and biology teacher at Hayfield Secondary, and Tracey Kyle (right in photo), Spanish and French teacher at Fairfax, presented "Open Enrollment: Student Support and Parent Participation" at the College Board's Advanced Placement annual conference in Seattle in July.

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* Dana Riley, a fourth grade teacher at Fairhill, was one of 24 educators from across Virginia selected to participate in the 2008 Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Summer Teacher Institute, held July 13-18 at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center history museums. Correlated with the Virginia Standards of Learning, the institute emphasized interactive, inquiry-based methods of teaching American history. A major component of the program was the opportunity for participants to work in period costume alongside museum historical interpreters.

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How Do I Get Mentioned in About Our People?

Submit your good news for About Our People to Supergram editor Andy Grunig at andy.grunig@fcps.edu. We want to hear from you!

Editor's Note: Send your electronic photo along with your good news.

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