The Goddard School Announces its Leading Educators For The 10th Annual Teacher Of The Year Awards

    KING OF PRUSSIA, PA, May 02, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI), franchisor of The Goddard School , the nation's premier preschool focusing on learning through play for children six weeks to six years old, names honorees for their tenth annual Teacher of the Year award. In celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week, happening May 2 to 6, GSI acknowledgesmore than 10,000 teachers nationwide and presents six extraordinary teachers with a plaque that commemorates their passion, dedication and enthusiasm for early childhood education.

"The teachers that have been selected as this year's honorees for Teacher of the Year have spearheaded long-term projects that have positively impacted the children in their classroom, their families, the Schools and the broader community," says Dr. Craig Bach, Vice President of Education at GSI. "The Teacher of the Year recipients engage students in learning opportunities that are both unique and effective. We are delighted to honor these six outstanding educators, who continue to lovingly guide and prepare children for success in school and in life."
Projects from the selected Goddard School educators include Family Game Night which is designed to continue fostering Kindergarten skills outside the classroom; Kindness Mission, which guides students to understand how small acts of kindness make a big impact; Intergenerational Project, which educates children about different generations while befriending residents at the Avalon Assisted Living Facility; and Happy Gonzo which first involved taking care of a class pet frog, Gonzo, and later introduced engaging learning opportunities for the preschoolers.

GSI honors the following teachers:

Anna Pecoraro - Elgin, IL
Anna Pecoraro, kindergarten teacher at The Goddard School located in Elgin, IL, introduced her students and families to Family Game Night. In an effort to continue to teach kindergarten skills such as reading, number recognition and critical thinking outside the classroom, children had the chance every Friday to check out a new game from the game library to take home and play with their families. When the children returned to school on Monday, they were to write a journal entry about their Family Game Night experience. All jounal entries were collected and included in a class book, which helped the students choose which game they would check out next. In May, the board games will be given to children and families that reside in Home of the Sparrow, a local shelter for women and children. The hope is that Home of the Sparrow can also learn through The Goddard School's learning through play philosophy!

Pamela Gijanto and Sabrina Piotrowski - Marlboro, NJ
Pamela Gijanto and Sabrina Piotrowski, pre-kindergarten teachers at The Goddard School located in Marlboro (School Road East), NJ, created Kindness Mission. Through this project, Gijanto and Piotrowski guided and encouraged children to be kind to others. With the goal of showing the children that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on others, the teachers helped the children develop identities as learners while promoting positive self-image. The teachers extended Kindness Mission beyond the school and into their community by organizing a gently used toy collection that benefitted Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County, a nonprofit organization that provides aid to children in need. It is Gijanto and Piotrowski's hope that the Kindness Mission will continue to connect their students to the community and make others feel good while feeling good about themselves.

Christina Mruskovic - Hillsborough, NJ
Christina Mruskovic, kindergarten teacher at The Goddard School located in Hillsborough, NJ, organized intergenerational activities for children to participate in throughout the year, such as visiting the residents of the Avalon Assisted Living facility. Mruskovic spent the first few months of the school year laying the foundation for the project by incorporating lessons about different generations into all the learning domains. The kindergarten class read books about grandparents, learned songs and discussed manners and etiquette before visiting the Avalon Assisted Living facility. On their first trip to the facility, the kindergarten class worked with the residents to help them make love bug pins, share snacks and sing songs. The students' next visit will be in May to do a Mother's Day activity with the residents.

Paige Hardwick and Erika Posey - Roswell, GA

Paige Hardwick and Erika Posey, co-lead preschool teachers at The Goddard School located in Roswell, GA, embarked on an adventure in learning by focusing the majority of their activities on the children's best friend, Gonzo, a tiny tree frog. Through efforts to keep Gonzo alive, learning opportunities were born. Students were soon producing songs, authoring a Gonzo "baby book" and learning about the Save the Frogs foundation, which later encouraged the establishment of a local chapter of the amphibian conservation organization at the School. Since Gonzo was born, the teachers worked together to maintain an engaging and exciting learning environment for students.

For more information on The Goddard School, please visit http://www.goddardschool.com.

About The Goddard School
Learning for fun. Learning for life. For nearly 30 years, The Goddard School has used the most current, academically endorsed methods to ensure that children from six weeks to six years old have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success in school and in life. Talented teachers collaborate with parents to nurture children into respectful, confident and joyful learners. The Goddard School's AdvancED- and Middle States-accredited F.L.EX. Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience) reaches more than 50,000 students in more than 430 Goddard Schools in 35 states. The Goddard School's comprehensive play-based curriculum, developed with early childhood education experts, provides the best childhood preparation for social and academic success. To learn more about The Goddard School, please visit http://www.goddardschool.com.

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