Kara Mikesell is Brockbank's Teacher Of The Year

Brockbank Elementary is pleased to announce and congratulate Mrs. Kara Mikesell for earning Brockbank's Teacher of the Year Award for the 2009-2010 school year. Kara was honored by the Nebo School District Board at their May 12, 2010 meeting. Kara is a sixth-grade teacher at Brockbank Elementary.
Kara is a fun, caring, and dedicated teacher. She provides students with wonderful learning opportunities which make her classroom an interesting place to be. Kara cares about her students and wants to know about their interests and hobbies. She is dedicated to the growth of all students and puts in the time necessary to plan fun activities and lessons that are engaging for all learning styles. Kara is willing to sacrifice her planning and recess time to help students who struggle with concepts. She wants each student to be the best they can be.

Five Outstanding Utah Educators Receive Arch Coal Teacher Acievement Award

Five area classroom teachers were honored today at a ceremony at Manti Elementary school, each receiving a prestigious Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award.

In addition to Arch Coal Senior Vice President Paul Lang, State School Board Member Dixie Allen and Utah Education Association Executive Director Mark Mickelsen were on hand to honor the recipients. This is the fourth year for the Arch Coal Foundation’s teacher recognition program in Carbon, Emery, Sanpete and Sevier counties. The counties surround the Skyline, Dugout Canyon and Sufco mines operated by Canyon Fuel Company, a subsidiary of major U.S. coal producer Arch Coal, Inc.

The five recipients are:

Karen B. Bedont Lighthouse Life & Learning Center Price
Kiersten R. Hatch Gunnison Elementary School Gunnison
Daniel G. Rasmussen Manti Elementary Manti
Vicki L. Rasmussen Cleveland Elementary Cleveland
Terri Lyn Williams Salina Elementary Salina

“Each year, when I read about the professionalism, innovation and caring attitudes the Arch Coal recipients bring to their classrooms, I know that our children are in good hands at school,” said Lang. “Our world is changing at a fast pace. If our nation is to continue to prosper and lead, then our children must be challenged and taught in classrooms by excellent teachers like those we honor today.

“These five teachers put their students first,” said Lang. “They are committed to changing the lives of their students through education and by providing opportunities to succeed. Teachers change lives is not a slogan; it is a fact.”

“It is obvious that our future rests in the hands of a well-educated population,” said Allen. “Our future is ultimately in the hands of the teachers and parents who assure that our students have every chance to be well educated. To ensure that teachers have the support necessary to do their job, we need to count on the involvement of companies like Arch Coal and the Arch Coal Foundation to highlight the quality and value of our teachers.”

“The Utah Education Association is proud to partner with the Arch Coal Foundation in honoring these outstanding educators,” said Mickelsen. “These professionals represent the very best of Utah’s many talented teachers who have dedicated their careers to enriching the lives of Utah’s schoolchildren. They are helping to build a bright future for our state.”

Each recipient receives a distinctive trophy, a classroom plaque and a $3,500 personal, cash award.
Partners for the program include the Office of the Governor, Utah State Office of Education, Utah Education Association, Utah School Superintendents Association, Carbon County School District, Emery County School District, Sevier County School District, North Sanpete School District, South Sanpete School District, Far West Bank, Market Express, radio stations KMTI, KLGL, KMGR, KSVC, KCYQ, KOAL, KARB, KRPX, and both TacoTime and Bookcliff Sales in Price.

Arch Coal is Utah’s largest coal producer and a large, state employer, with a workforce of approximately 800. Through all its operations, Arch Coal is the nation’s second largest coal producer. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.

Information about each of the five current recipients as well as past recipients is posted at archtearcherawards.com.

New CEO Named at Educators Mutual Insurance

Educators Mutual’s board of directors has named Steven C. Morrison as its new president and chief executive officer. Steve has served as Educators Mutual’s executive vice president of sales and marketing for the past seven years, during which the organization experienced remarkable growth.

“Steve brings tremendous industry acumen, deep experience and a passion for Educators Mutual,” said board chair Gary Harmer. “Members, partners and employees will be well served by his leadership. He will build upon Educators Mutual’s success in recent years and help the organization in furthering our mission of maximizing benefits while keeping premiums low.”

Prior to joining Educators Mutual in 2001, Steve served as an internal auditor and as manager of member services, quality and reporting for Regence BlueCross BlueShield. He also has worked as a senior auditor for the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

“I am excited by the opportunity to serve in this position,” said Steve. “I will work to direct our focus on core products, including medical, dental and vision and will strive to implement initiatives to control costs and provide plans designed to manage and improve the health of our members.”

Steve graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He maintains a license as a Certified Public Accountant in Utah and has owned and operated a number of small businesses. He also serves in many community capacities, including as a member of the board of directors for Junior Achievement.

Steve succeeds Andy Galano, who recently announced his retirement after serving for 13 years as Educators Mutual’s CEO.

Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh Wins Top NEA Honor

On Friday, April 30, at the National Education Association Foundation's Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, Salt Lake City educator, Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh, received the top honor, the $25,000 NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence. At this annual celebration of the men and women who work in America's public schools, the Foundation presented more than 40 awards to exceptional educators and dedicated supporters.
This year's event featured an eco-friendly theme and awardees shared the stage with national leaders in the environmental movement, including event emcee, Philippe Cousteau, CEO of EarthEcho International, Correspondent for Planet Green, and Spokesperson for Discovery Education.
Gallagher-Fishbaugh, a second grade teacher at Dilworth Elementary School, was nominated for the award by the Utah Education Association, and was one of 38 public school educators nominated by their state associations. All 38 educators were recognized at the event and received The Burt's Bees Greater Good Foundation's Award for Teaching Excellence. The NEA Foundation donated $750 to each of the nominees' schools and covered the cost of their travel to attend the gala.
"Sharon represents the very best of the good things happening in Utah's public schools," said Kim Campbell, president of the Utah Education Association. "She is a professional educator not only dedicated to her students, but also to her profession. Her passion for education is contagious."
The following four runners-up for the top honor were given special recognition and presented with The Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence and $10,000.
Sarah Baird, a math coach at Kyrene del Milenio and Kyrene del Cielo Elementary Schools in Phoenix, Ariz.
Katherine Bishop, a special education teacher at Lake Park Elementary School in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Tim McCollum, an eighth grade science teacher at Charleston Middle School in Charleston, Ill.
Bob Williams, a high school math teacher at Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska.
The five awardees were introduced by video profiles created by their students with training and technical support donated by the Pearson Foundation. Last fall, a Pearson Foundation team spent several days at each of the awardees' schools instructing students and teachers how to create and produce a video and how to use digital arts technologies. The video profiles can be viewed here. https://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/awards/teaching-excellence-awards/2010-finalists/
"These educators were nominated by their peers because they attained the highest standards of the profession," said Harriet Sanford, President and CEO of the NEA Foundation. "Honoring them is our way to thank them for their excellent work."
In addition to the outstanding educators, the NEA Foundation presented Nickelodeon with The NEA Foundation Award for Philanthropy in Public Education for its commitment to children and to education.
"For more than 30 years, Nickelodeon has engaged and educated children across the nation and around the world," said Sanford. "Nickelodeon has championed the environment, health and wellness, education, and community service. Most recently, through its Big Help Grants, Nickelodeon is providing up to $5,000 in direct support to schools and community-based organizations for environmentally-friendly projects that educate and inspire kids to take care of the environment, themselves, and their communities."
The NEA Foundation also presented Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE http://www.janegoodall.org/ , founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN messenger of Peace, with its Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education for her lifelong achievements in chimpanzee behavioral research and community-centered conservation in Africa, as well as for her international environmental and humanitarian youth program, Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots http://www.rootsandshoots.org/ .