JANELLE SCHUMACHER 1999 HONOREE IN DISNEY'S AMERICAN TEACHER AWARDS

Centennial Elementary School Physical Education teacher Janelle Schumacher, one of Fargo's brightest stars in education, has been selected a 1999 Honoree for Disney's American Teacher Awards.

Schumacher, nominated by a parent of one of her students, is one of only 39 teachcrs selected from the more than 75,000 nominations The Walt Disney Company received. She will be flown to Los Angeles with other outstanding teachers from across the country to be honored for their talents, skills and commitmen to their profession.

"We're thrilled to showcase some of America's most innovative teachers who are using creative teaching approaches in the classroom to help kids learn" said Laurie Lang, Senior Vice President, the Walt Disney Company.

The gala celebration and awards show will be cablecast on Disney Channel on November 15.

Since l989, Disney's American Teacher Awards have saluted exemplary teachers in pre-kindergarten through 12 grade for innovative teaching methods that actively engage, age students in learning. The focus of Disney's American Teacher Awards is to recognize the teaching profession, showcase creativity in the classroom, and honor those who can assist in developing creative teaching strategies in their school districts.

This year, Disney received over 11,000 teacher applications from the more than 75,000 nominations submitted by telephone and e-mail. "The real impact of this year' s nominees is that over 84% were nominated by students and parents," Lang said. The 39 Honorees, chosen by a Selection Committee comprised of distinguished educators, are nominated in one of 12 teaching categories. One Finalist will be selected in each category, and the Outstanding Teacher of the Year will be chosen by the 39 honorees from among the 12 Finalists.

The Walt Disney Company will award $25.000 to the Outstanding Teacher of the Year $25,000 to their school and $10,000 to their school district. The 12 category finalists will each receive $2,500. Each Honoree will receive $2,500, as well their schools. (Editor's note): Team teaching Honorees will share all prize honoraria evenly.)

The 12 Teaching categories the Honorees are nominated in are:
Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten; General Elementary,
Elementary Specialist
Middle School-Junior High: The Sciences; The Humanities; The Arts
High School: The Sciences; The Humanities; The Arts
Pre- Kindergarten through 12tth Grade: Team Teaching; Special
Education: WellnesslSports

The Selection Committee is comprised of representatives of the following organizations: American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Council for American Private Education, Council of Chief State School Officers, Council of Great City Schools, The Galef Institute, Harvard University's Project Zero, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, The National Board for Professional Teaching Standard, National Education Association, National Middle School Association, and National Parent Teacher Association.

In addition, past American Teacher Award Honorees serve on the Selection Committee. The Walt Disney Company does not participate in the selection process.

A new feature of the American Teacher Awards this year is a professional development program which will build upon the 39 Honorees' strengths and experiences in the classroom. They will attend a summer institute in 2000 where they will share and explore innovative teaching approaches and then design a professional development action plan that they will be implement in their school districts during the 2000-2001 school year.

"Disney's American Teacher Awards is honor," Lang said. "But to The Walt Disney Company, they're also an investment&Mac247;an investment in teachers who have that special gift of digging deep inside and unlocking the imagination we all know lies within every child. Janelle Schumacher is one of those teachers."

Janelle has taught physical education for 27 years, mostly in secondary. She discovered that he had been relocated to the elementary the day before school stated six years ago!!!! Janelle notes, " Never have I felt the joy of teaching as I do now working at starting children out in a healthy active lifestyle!" She has recently completed her master's degree through Virginia Tech under Dr. George Graham. Regarding this experience she said, "This electronic master's program in physical education and health was a dream come true. My teaching style expanded under the awesome staff at Virginia Tech.

She worked with dramatic people like the national secondary teacher of the year for 1998, Karen Roeslor, and one of seven finalist for middle school teacher of the year, Lois Mauch- all under the guidence and expertise of Jan Adair, retired curriculum head of physical education in Fargo. Jan started the "Re-Tool Technolygy camp" in Fargo three years ago in which new ideas were presented on heart rate monitors among other technology ideas.

Janelle commented "I can't say enough about how professionalism has made an impact on my teaching. I am so honored by the Disney Award that I literally float on a daily basis. Never in my teaching career have I been so pleased with my teaching of students!!!"

Janelle is also North Dakota's elementary teacher of the year and will be competing for the Central District honor in Feb.

In school, Janelle does a lot with music and dance and told PELINKS4U that she would love to share her knowledge of elementary dances with other teachers.Janelle can be contacted at schumaj@fargo.k12.nd.us

Make a note to watch the Disney Awards on NOVEMBER 15 - DISNEY CHANNEL