Mary Jane Morris, Utah's 2010 Teacher of the Year
Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction today named Northwest Middle School reading teacher Mary Jane Morris as Utah’s 2010 Teacher of the Year. In addition to teaching eighth grade reading, Morris is the school’s Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher. AVID is a program aimed at encouraging students to prepare themselves academically for college.
“Her talents and abilities are not only demonstrated in the classroom with students, but outside its walls when interacting with a variety of different people as well,” said Northwest Principal Rod Goode.
As Utah Teacher of the Year, Morris will represent Utah in the national Teacher of the Year competition in Washington, D.C. She will receive a check for $10,000 from the Utah State Office of Education and a SMART Board interactive white board from SMART Board Technologies. The Utah Teacher of the Year will gather with other state teachers of the year in Washington next spring where she will meet with President Barrack Obama. She will also travel to Space Camp in Alabama next summer.
A committee with representatives from the Utah State Office of Education, principals, superintendents, the Utah PTA, the Utah Education Association and 2009 Utah Teacher of the Year Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh chose Morris from among 18 nominations sent in from local school districts and charter schools.
Shumway also announced three other finalist candidates from the field. Each of the three finalists will be presented with a $3,000 check at a banquet scheduled Nov. 6 in Salt Lake City to honor all Utah district and charter teachers of the year. The finalists are:
Morris succeeds Salt Lake City’s Dilworth Elementary School second grade teacher Sharon Gallagher‐Fishbaugh as Utah Teacher of the Year.