Ocean City Teacher Recognized With National Award

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City High School American Sign Language Teacher Amy T. Andersen is one of 46 public school educators who will receive the prestigious California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, the NEA Foundation announced on Thursday.

She will receive the award at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala in Washington, D.C. in February.

At the beginning of the school year, five of the 46 nominees will be announced as finalists to receive $10,000 at the gala. The nation’s top educator will be revealed at the gala on Feb. 8, 2019, and will receive an additional $25,000. The gala will be live streamed at neafoundation.org.

Andersen was nominated by her peers for her dedication to the profession, community engagement, professional development, attention to diversity, and advocacy for fellow educators.

“As superintendent, I can ask for nothing more than a teacher who inspires students to not only excel at the subject matter, but to look beyond their own experience and find ways to improve the world around them,” Ocean City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor said. “Amy T. Andersen is an extremely dedicated teacher and an inspiration to our district and community. Amy truly deserves this distinction, and we are so proud.”

Each year, the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala draws almost 1,000 supporters of public education, and thousands more online, to applaud these awardees, according to the NEA. At the gala, the educators are celebrated throughout the night with music, performances, videos, and more.

“We are delighted that during our 50th anniversary next year, we will celebrate the largest number of awardees in our history,” NEA Foundation President and CEO Harriet Sanford said. “These educators are keeping the promise of public education by creating learning opportunities for their students that are relevant and rigorous. They advocate for each other, the profession, and public education. We deeply appreciate California Casualty’s partnership in recognizing these exemplary educators, and we look forward to honoring them next February on stage at the beautiful National Building Museum in Washington, DC and with virtual celebrations across the country.”

Andersen has already been named the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year and a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year award this year.

“We are glad to have the chance to show our respect and appreciation for the work of public school educators each year,” California Casualty CEO Beau Brown said. “We applaud the great work of the California Casualty awardees.”

Andersen, of Cape May Court House, launched the American Sign Language program in Ocean City with about 40 students back in 2004. The following year, more than 130 students had signed up as interest in careers teaching the deaf grew.

Community oriented activities, such as ASL socials at local coffee shops and evening performances that raise funds for scholarships immerse students in deaf and hard of hearing culture helping them to build confidence.

In the past three years alone, more than 85 percent of her students have achieved the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy, which denotes a student's fluency in sign language, according to the State Board of Education. Her program has inspired a number of students to pursue American Sign Language-related careers.

The NEA Foundation and the National Education Association jointly present the awards. Click here for more information about the awards and a gallery of this year’s awardees.

See related:
Ocean City Schools Recognized For American Sign Language Program
Ocean City Teacher To Speak At Teacher As Hero Awards Ceremony
Ocean City Teacher Praised By State Education Commissioner
Ocean City Teacher To Be Honored By Sen. Menendez

The attached image of Amy Andersen was provided