Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation

Linda Brown Fellows Award

The Linda Brown Fellows Award was created to promote and recognize excellence in teaching. This honor is presented to teachers who set their personal expectations high and make learning exciting every day. This year, five recipients were selected from a field of 69 nominations for 25 teachers. The award winners each received $2,000 to be used for educational purposes and an additional $500 for personal use.

Susan Lowder, Tahoe Truckee High School
Warren Mills, North Tahoe High School

The Linda Brown Fellows Program recognizes outstanding teachers within the district who have demonstrated extraordinary originality and commitment to teaching, and also exceptional merit and dedication to innovation. The fellowship is designed to enhance future work, not to reward past work, hence it has a focus on the future.

Robyn McCartney of Kings Beach Elementary
Lois Moore of Glenshire Elementary
Vicki Decker of Sierra Mountain Middle School
Dean Nordby of North Tahoe Middle School

The 2000-2001 Fellows Program awards were presented to two full time teachers from the elementary grades (K-5), and two full time teachers from the middle school grades (6-8); in each category, one teacher was chosen from the Truckee area and one from the lakeside area. The selection committee was comprised of nine members of the Excellence in Education board of directors who had to make difficult selections from an outstanding field of nominations . Each recipient received a $1,500 cash grant, that they could spend in any way that enhanced student or teacher academics during the 2000-2001 school year.

Danny Brolliar of Tahoe Lake Elementary
Nancy Shaeffer of Truckee Elementary
Carolyn Keigley of Glenshire Elementary
Dave Green of Truckee High School
Lisa Furr of Truckee High/North Tahoe High Special Education
Dick Lingle of North Tahoe High School

Each recipient received a $1,500 cash grant that they could spend in any way that enhanced student or teacher academics during the 2001-2002 school year. Here are some of the inspiring comments from those who nominated the six award recipients:

Michael Arington, Sierra Mountain Middle School
"Michael Arington has a degree in computer engineering. You will find his classroom is on the cutting edge of technology usage. He tirelessly supports his colleagues through time and tutoring in the area of computer technology and multi-media. He implemented a computerized robotics class." As further written, "He exemplifies the type of teacher that both students and fellow teachers learn from and enjoy."

Judy Cwikla, Truckee Elementary
In one of her nominations a parent wrote of Judy Cwikla, "Do you remember that one special teacher who put the words to the music and miade it all click for you? Who went the extra milke, took the extra time, gave you the extra explanation that brought it all together? I truly believe that there are hundreds of children in our community that this teacher has done that for."

Jennifer Jurowsky, North Tahoe High School
A student affectionately shared of Jennifer Jurosky, "Our class never has a dull moment; we spend every class using her favorite rule: USE EVERY MINUTE!" She always has something on the agenda that is interesting and brings learning history into new territory. I have seen her at every school game I have attended, proudly wearing blue and white, showing her support for her students."

Sandy Leatherman, Sierra Mountain Middle School
A colleague wrote: "Sandy Leatherman's classroom is a place where students are nurtured, respected and motivated. She maintains an academically rigorous curriculum where studnets are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning. She continually strives for excellence, because she absolutely loves her work.....her colleagues are better teachers because of their association with her. She is the consummate professional."

Julia Lawrence, Truckee Elementary
A volunteer parent with the support of her kindergarten student submitted the following about Julia: "Her commitment to her chosen profession is humbling/ She is the epitome of a kindergarten teacher: part mom, part sherrif and part circus ringleader. She takes each day in stride and her classroom is a place of joy and happiness." It was also written, "Giving kids confidence in their learning is a magical gift that will only build better students and members of society later on. She passes that gift on to her students every day in many ways, big and small"

The Linda Brown Fellows Award was created to promote and recognize excellence in teaching. This honor is presented to teachers who set their personal expectations high and make learning exciting every day. This year, four recipients were selected from a field of 64 nominations. Of the nominations received, 37 were from parents of students, 5 were from students, 2 were from members of the community and 20 were from colleagues. The award winners each received $2,000 to be used for educational purposes and an additional $500 for personal use.

Recognize those who help local students reach for the stars!

The Linda Brown Fellows Awards recognize TTUSD educators who...
go above and beyond in fulfilling their potential as an educator and show exceptional merit or talent, provide truly outstanding academic programs, are extraordinarily innovative, and creative.