Norwood Teachers Honored in 2016 Award Program

24 Norwood Teachers Honored for Classroom Innovation and Creativity; Teacher of the Year to be Named May 6

​NORWOOD -- April 25, 2016-- Twenty-four Norwood teachers will be honored for their work in the classroom at the annual Norwood Teacher of the Year Award Reception on Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m.
 
Hosted annually by the Orient Lodge of Masons, the Norwood Teacher of the Year awards recognize teachers for the dedication and commitment to the education of Norwood students. Tickets for the Norwood Teacher of the Year Award Reception are available for purchase for $20. Visit http://norwoodtoy.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets. The reception will be held at the Norwood Masons Building at 76 Day St.
 
The 24 Norwood teachers who will be honored this year are:
 
Balch Elementary: Julie Cayer, Lindsay Ott

Cleveland Elementary: Amanda Baker, Beverly Haffey, Janet Lynch, Kristine Atiyeh, Nancy Landfield

Coakley Middle School: Jennifer Forrest, Katherine Mooney

Norwood High School: Sarah Paine

Oldham Elementary: Jaclyn Ignachuck

Prescott Elementary: Jennifer Connolly, Jillian Leonard-Bouley, Julia Ficco, Laurel Cawley

St. Catherine of Siena: Amanda Hayes, Beth Standring, Joan Sullivan, Paula Scollins Curley
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Willett Early Childhood Center: Colleen Reynolds, Elaine Haddad-Hajjar, Karen Wilson, Laura Tolman, Meg Corcoran
 
All nominees will be honored at the reception, and receive a certificate and a gift card for Sky Restaurant of Norwood. One teacher, selected by a blind jury who evaluated each essay based on the above criteria, will be named Norwood Teacher of the Year and receive a cash award, a charitable school donation in their name, and an award. Hor d'oeuvres will be served.
 
Earlier this year nominations were solicited from the community; each nomination attested to their nominee’s innovation and creativity, ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, and work on special projects and initiatives. A jury comprised primarily of educators not from Norwood schools reviewed each essay with nominee names redacted, scoring each on the above criteria to select a winner.
 
Originally conceived by the defunct Exchange Club of Norwood, Orient Lodge now proudly organizes the annual event. In 2015, Prescott School teacher Lindsey Bell was honored as Teacher of the Year among 15 teachers.
 
Follow Orient Lodge @Orient_Norwood, or visit www.orientlodge.net for more information.