Two Rockwood Teachers Receive Excellence Award

Among the 98 St. Louis metropolitan area teachers selected to receive the 2011 Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards were two, local teachers:  Jim Schulz, l and Nancy Bonn-Winkler, Center for Creative Learning Counselor.

Schulz teaches European history, politics and conflict. He is a sponsor to the school's Student Council as well as for Prom.

“I was thrilled to receive this award. It’s always nice to be validated for what you do in the classroom," said Schulz.

"In this day and age when our teenagers are 'plugged in' to technology at every chance they get, it is a challenge to reach every student in the traditional classroom setting."

Schulz said he believes teachers have to keep up with changing trends in education. "Technology certainly plays a role in the classroom to a greater degree every year. That being said, there is nothing wrong with emphasizing the basics — our students need to know how to read well and write coherently. Having good thinking skills and a strong work ethic can get you far in education as well as in life. Those are the types of skills that I try to instill in my students.”

Crystal apples made by Tiffany’s will be presented next month to Schulz, Bonn-Winkler and the other selected educators for their commitment to students and their achievements in the classroom.

“The prosperity of a region is directly linked to the education of its residents, and therefore it is important to recognize, if not salute, the dedication and innovation shown towards our finest educators,” said David N. Farr, chairman and chief executive officer of Emerson, in announcing the award recipients from the area’s public, private, parochial, and independent schools, and area community colleges and universities in a news release.

The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Awards will be presented Nov. 13 during a ceremony and reception at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis’s Grand Center Arts District. 

Veteran broadcaster Don Marsh, host of St. Louis Public Radio’s St. Louis on the Air on KWMU-FM, will serve as the master of ceremonies at the event.

The educators were individually selected by their school administrators.

"Quality teachers at all levels are absolutely instrumental in helping students achieve the highest level of success imaginable,” said Robert Cox Jr., Emerson senior vice president of administration in the release. “And their achievements ultimately enable our communities to grow, companies to succeed and increase jobs, and provide more progressive employment opportunities in the future."

The Excellence in Teaching Awards program, now in its 23rd year, is sponsored annually by St. Louis-based Emerson, a diversified global manufacturer and technology leader. The company, with the Emerson Charitable Trust, for the year ending September 2011, gave $9.6 million to more than 700 educational organizations and institutions, according to Emerson records.

In addition to receiving the crystal apple award, each recipient and all the honorees from the past five years can apply for a Gold Star Grant from Emerson. The grants, which will be presented in Spring 2012, are for non-school funded devices, technology and related services, reflecting the pillars of the Emerson brand — technology, innovation and leadership, Cox said.  

In the past five years, Emerson has awarded more than $210,000 to area educators and schools through the Gold Star Grant program, Cox said.

Emerson invited St. Louis area school districts to submit one teacher (grades K through college/university-level) per district (or, one per 500 teachers for larger districts.) Only one team nomination per school district is permitted. Emerson honors all teachers who are nominated.

While there are no specific guidelines for Gold Star Grant applications, Emerson spokesperson Allison Olson said the selection committee takes special notice of the following: 

• Proposals that reflect the pillars of the Emerson brand:  technology, innovation, and leadership. 
• Proposals that are not directly related to mandatory curriculum, or specifically, projects that would likely not be completed otherwise.
• Proposals that include plans to define the project’s success.