Excellence In Teaching Awards
2011 – Remarkable. Outstanding. Exceptional. Superb.
With strong recommendation, ten of North America’s highest quality teachers were selected this spring by the Alumni Awards Foundation (AAF) to receive a 2011 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Nominated by principals, superintendents, colleagues, and former students, the 10 teachers selected have been celebrated across the North American Division. AAF board members and staff have traveled from coast to coast to present each teacher with a $2,000 gift, medallion and Certificate of Excellence during special events hosted by the recipients’ schools. Colleagues, students and community members have had the opportunity to publicly thank the teachers for the impact they’ve had in their local schools.
The finalists were chosen from many nominations that came in this year. The AAF staff and Selection Committee diligently considered each teacher, and what resulted was an impressive top 10.
“After reading the essays from the nominations and their supporting documents, my belief in the quality of teachers that we have in our schools has been strengthened,” said Roo McKenzie, Southeastern California Conference Evangelist for Education. AAF appointed McKenzie to serve on this year’s Selection Committee. “Adventist Christian Education has some superstar teachers indeed.”
Robert Nobuhara, a 2010 Excellence in Teaching Award recipient from Monterey Bay Academy, was also on this year’s Selection Committee. Nobuhara said what he appreciated most of all about the candidates was that many if not all of them strongly focused their teaching to connect their students to Jesus Christ.
AAF’s Selection Committee of six agreed that choosing the final 10 was challenging. In fact, committee members said it took several rounds of voting to determine the finalists.
“I had to go with my heart to make the selections, but it was very difficult,” said Arpad Soo, Selection Committee Chairman and AAF Board Member. “We have so many outstanding teachers this year, and they all deserve an award. It’s a thrilling experience to read and see what these educators are doing. My congratulations to our 10 recipients this year.”
AAF is a nonprofit organization that has awarded grants for Adventist education totaling more than $1.4 million. The organization has recognized 106 exceptional teachers with an Excellence in Teaching Award since its establishment in 1995. AAF partners with educators, church officials and philanthropists to develop and fund programs that awaken the full potential in Adventist education.
The AAF Board of Directors includes individuals who have become leaders in their communities and professions. AAF board members say they draw inspiration from their common heritage in Adventist schools. Their major objective is to strengthen and reward quality Adventist education, and foster the means for school improvements in Adventist K-12 schools.
2011 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Steven Atkins, Andrews Academy, Michigan Conference
- Sonia Barrett, Brooklyn Seventh-day Adventist School, Greater New York Conference
- Steve Baughman, Highland Academy, Kentucky-Tennessee Conference
- Vivian Beierle, Mission Hills Christian School, Northern California Conference
- David Goymer, Paradise Adventist Academy, Northern California Conference
- James Marxmiller, Mountain View Academy, Central California Conference
- Gordon Miller, Shenandoah Valley Adventist Elementary, Potomac Conference
- Mark Smith, Portland Adventist Academy, Oregon Conference
- Keren Taccone, West Palm Beach Junior Academy, Florida Conference
- Wendie Warren, Bermuda Institute of Seventh-day Adventists, Bermuda Conference
2010 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Verna Canaday, Tri-City Junior Academy, Upper Columbia Conference
- Janel Fields, V.Lindsay Seventh-day Adventist School, Central States Conference
- Patricia Fulton, Bermuda Institute, Bermuda Conference
- Robert Nobuhara, Monterey Bay Academy, Central California Conference
- Carol Oster, Olney Adventist Preparatory School, Potomac Conference
- Tammy Overstreet, Osceola Adventist Christian School, Florida Conference
- Patricia Thompson, Alcy Seventh-day Adventist Junior Academy, South-Central Conference
- Gelena Renee Turner, Dallas Christian Academy, Texas Conference
- Sara Willard, Summit Christian Academy, Nevada-Utah Conference
- Jerry Zappia, El Dorado Adventist School, Northern California Conference
2009 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Coleen Birkett, Bermuda Institute
- Rudy Carlson, Stone Ridge Christian
- Melissa Galetti, Linda Vista Adventist Academy Elementary School
- Cheri Gregory, Monterey Bay Academy
- Randy Heilman, Collegedale Academy
- Carrie Hess, Spencerville Academy
- Rusty Litten, Orlando Junior Academy
- Amy Marcarian, Glendale Adventist Academy
- Cindy McCaw, Salt Lake Junior Academy
- Arthur Miller, Holbrook Indian School
- Nancy Shoonover, El Dorado Adventist School
- Susan Whitely, Cascade Christian Academy
2008 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Myrna Candelaria, Takoma Academy
- Melinda Danesky, Glendale Adventist Academy
- Janice Deibel, Galt Adventist Christian Elementary
- Tamara Dell’Erba, Kingsway College
- Vicki Downer, Cascade Christian Academy
- Shannon Fisher, Cascade Christian Academy
- Janice Harford, Okanagan Adventist Academy
- Richard Hickam, Collegedale Academy
- Steve McClain, La Sierra Academy
- Harold Williams, Campion Academy
- Tim Zytkoskee, Monterey Bay Academy
2007 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Donna Baerg, Monterey Bay Academy
- Heather Blaire, Mile High Academy
- Val Blue, Desert Adventist School
- Scott Bowes, Kingsway College
- David Carter, Great Lakes Academy
- Sonia Dawes, Bermuda Institute
- John Deming, Walla Walla Valley Academy
- John Facundo, El Dorado Academy
- Gayle Haeger, Upper Columbia Academy
- Stan Hobbs, Atlanta Academy
- Caryl Patten, Glendale Elementary
- Jennifer Payne, Highland View Academy
2006 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Philip Binkley, Loma Linda Academy
- Gordon Davis, Walker Memorial Academy
- Kay Kierstead, Kingsway College
- Amy Miller, Newbury Park Academy
- Stan Miller, Minnetonka Christian Academy
- Jacques Patterson, Greater New York Academy
- Donald Slocum, Shenandoah Valley Academy
- Steve Walls, Monterey Bay Academy
- Jeff Youker, El Dorado Adventist School
- Roo McKenzie (Excellence in Leadership), Loma Linda Academy
2005 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Matthew Butte, Columbia Adventist Academy
- Christine Dudley, Redlands Adventist Academy
- Roman Hintz, Walla Walla Valley Academy
- Carolyn Jensen, Forest Lake Academy
- Tim Kubrock, Monterey Bay Academy
- Stephen Laing, Loma Linda Academy
- Craig Mohr, Glendale Adventist Academy
- Alfred Riddle, Mesa Grande Academy
- Jennifer Schmidt, Rio Lindo Adventist Academy
2004 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Robert Baerg, Monterey Bay Academy
- Bruce Bellchambers, Mount Vernon Academy
- Jeff Bovee, Milo Adventist Academy
- Milo Heinrich, Mesa Grande Academy
- Sarah Henderson, Thunderbird Adventist Academy
- Millene “Sietie”Heslop, Great Lakes Adventist Academy
- Jerry Lange, Upper Columbia Academy
- Jeffrey K. Lauritzen, Collegedale Academy
- Arnaldo Mercado, Bermuda Institute
- Tom McNeilus, Shenandoah Valley Academy
- Brenda Mohr, Glendale Adventist Academy
- Randy Norton, El Dorado Adventist School
- Harley Peterson, Pine Hills Adventist School
- Anderson Sandiford, Loma Linda Academy
- Melia Williams, Campion Academy
2003 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients
- Elizabeth Baerg, Monterey Bay Academy
- Kevin Bisson, South Lancaster Academy
- Delmas Campbell, Pine Forge Academy
- Karen Clark, Bass Memorial Academy
- John Feltman, Mount Vernon Academy
- Ruthie Gage, Las Vegas Jr Academy
- Kathy Goddard, Collegeview Academy
- Sandra Gross, Glendale Academy
- Tom Lee, Columbia Academy
- Chris Morris, Thunderbird Academy
- Jynean Reid, Greater Atlanta Academy
- Kerrie Schnell, Spring View Academy
- Marsha Serafin, Sand Diego Academy
- Terry Sole, Gem State Academy
- Kathy Trumper, Highland Academy
- Roger Vanatta, Mile High Academy
- Mason West, Bermuda Institute
