'Best Fire Drill Ever' Surprises Vernon's Teacher Of The Year

VERNON, CT — A staged meting with the superintendent of schools followed by a late-day fire drill Thursday added up to be perfect diversions to surprise Shireen Rhoades with the Vernon Teacher of the Year award.

Rhoades is a reading interventionist at Maple Street School and also chairs the school's family engagement committee.

"This is awesome and a day I'll never forget," Rhoades said after being mobbed by students at the school playground. "One thing that worries me though, is the ability of all these guys to keep a good secret."

Maple Street School Principal Joshua Egan said the staff conjured up the scheme.

"I though fire drill ... hmmmm ...," Egan said. "It was the perfect diversion."

So was changing Rhoades' responsibilities to make her activate the fire alarm the last one out of the building.

"I Just went along with it and had no idea," Rhoades said. Her colleagues called it the "best fire drill ever."

Her family was even in on it and snuck onto campus just prior to the drill.

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary did. That why he called a "meeting" with Rhoades near the end of the school day. As an interventionist, Rhoades works with students who have trouble with reading and writing.

"She closely works with students who are below grade level, but she gets those kids to grade level," Macary said. "Plus, she does a great job with family engagement. She is what we want in a teacher in Vernon Public Schools."

Maple Street second-grade teacher Chelsea Artzerounian said Rhoades is able to balance not only challenging student to get to the next level, but understanding the success of their work.

Egan also praised the way Rhoades collaborates with other faculty members.

As the chairwoman of the Maple Street School Family Engagement committee, Rhoades has coordinated events like career day and Read Across America, Math and Literacy Night and the annual spelling bee. She has created a successful first-grade "slumber party kit" program designed to impact the home-school connection and runs a popular "cursive club" for fifth-grade students.

At the Board of Education awards night, she was also recognized with a Profiles in Professionalism Award.

In a narrative that accompanied her teacher of the year submission, Rhoades said, "I know that children thrive when held to high standards and clear expectations. I love my students and I Love planning lessons that address their specific needs in ways that keep them positive and engaged."