Tuesday, January 08, 2008

VALLEY TEACHER FINALIST FOR NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR HONOR

By Naush Boghossian, Staff Writer | LA Daily News

January 8, 2008 - A San Fernando Valley engineering-design instructor is the first L.A. Unified teacher to become a finalist for the nation's top teaching honor, the state department of education announced Monday.

Lewis Chappelear, a teacher at James Monroe High School in North Hills, is one of four finalists for 2008 National Teacher of the Year. The winner is expected to be announced by April.

"I teach about careers and helping kids with their entire lives," said Chappelear, a Sherman Oaks resident.

He said his nomination shows that national educators are "recognizing teachers who think outside the box, who expand education outside the four walls of the classroom and who look at a child as a whole person rather than just a student sitting in a classroom full of seats."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said Chappelear is an enthusiastic educator who symbolizes what teaching is all about.

"He teaches, he engages, he challenges his students to try, to persevere, to succeed," O'Connell said. "He sees their potential long before they discover it themselves. He is truly an inspiration for California."

LAUSD Local District 1 Superintendent Jean Brown said the news gave her goose bumps. "It's huge. ... He's certainly an extraordinary educator who has a passion for what he does," she said. "To have somebody like that at an LAUSD school is testament to the fact that there is excellence that exists throughout the district and this is a reminder."

Chappelear was selected in November as one of five California Teachers of the Year for 2008.


4LAKids 2¢: Congratulations to Lewis Chappelear.

It is especially noteworthy that he is not a core subject (English, Math, Social Studies, Science) instructor.
Chappelear expands education-with-excellence outside the four walls of the classroom and the four pillars of contemporary "test driven" curriculum.

You won't find engineering and design in the standardized tests ...but you will find engineers and designers in the real world!


No comments: