Congratulations to NWPE member Jean Robinson, Earth Science teacher at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, and her middle school ExploraVision team!  Jean led her middle school students to win the Region 6 competition of the 2014 Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision program, the world's largest K-12 science competition.  The students' project could lead to a potential scientific and medical breakthrough for the treatment of migraine headaches.

Congratulations to Ms. Megan Neary, a 4th grade teacher at Skyway Elementary School in Coeur d’Alene, ID.  Ms. Neary has been awarded a $400 Classroom Grant from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) to purchase hands on math materials to aid in the teaching of fractions which are receiving greater emphasis under the Idaho Common Core Standards.  The materials will help students work with fractions and understand them at a concrete level, according to Ms. Neary.  “Our state standards last year did not address fraction concepts to such a deep level of understanding so the information we are teaching is very new to our grade level. I have found that my students enjoy working with hands on materials and I feel this would help them master these concepts in a fun, meaningful way!”

Congratulations to Ms. Nicole Latsch, 5th grade teacher at Aberdeen Elementary School, Aberdeen, ID, on being awarded a $330 Classroom Grant from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association. The award will fund the purchase the Rosetta Stone Spanish program to help teachers learn Spanish in order to communicate more effectively with parents and enhance student achievement in a district in which approximately 50% of the students are Hispanic with the majority of their parents having limited English.

Congratulations to Mr. Aaron Ritter, principal of iSucceed Virtual High School, in Boise, ID.  Mr. Ritter has been awarded a $500 Classroom Grant from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association. Ms. Leah Guelker, NWPE representative, presented the grant at a staff luncheon sponsored by NWPE.

Congratulations to Ms. Stephanie Rice, a K-12 English/Language Arts teacher at Council Jr-Sr High School in Council, ID, on her $500 Classroom Grant award from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s only non-union professional teacher association. Ms. Leah Guelker, NWPE representative, presented the grant at a staff gathering. The award will fund Ms. Rice’s purchase of e-books for her classroom’s Kindle e-readers expanding the reading choices available to her students.

Congratulations to Mr. Chris Best, an NWPE member and math teacher at Vallivue High School in Caldwell, ID.  Mr. Best was awarded a $300 scholarship from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) by Ms. Leah Guelker, NWPE representative, at an April 8 staff meeting.  Mr. Best will utilize the funds to attend the Foundation for Teaching Economics Institute on Environment and Economics this summer.  According to Mr. Best, “Many students are interested in environmental issues. This Institute will provide me with an array of issues to use with my AP Statistics students as well as my Geometry students and provide me with classroom activities that I can tailor to my students needs.”

A recent editorial by Rep. Scott Bedke, Idaho’s Speaker of the House, points out that selective use of statistics can paint a dreary and unenlightened landscape of the success of a state’s teachers and students.

Congratulations to Mr. Bob McMichael, a 7-12th grade language arts teacher at Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School in Cambridge, ID.   A new member of Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), Mr. McMichael was awarded a $250 NWPE New Classroom Start-Up Grant on February 26, 2014 by Ms. Leah Guelker, an NWPE representative.

Congratulations to Crystal Davidson, a middle school science teacher at Heritage Community Charter School in Caldwell, ID!  A member of Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), Crystal was awarded a $250 NWPE New Classroom Start-Up Grant on February 10, 2014 by Cherri Sabala, NWPE Board Member.

Congratulations to Helen Sauer, a K-7 special education teacher at Heritage Academy in Jerome, ID, who has been awarded a $250 New Classroom Start-Up Grant from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the Northwest’s only non-union professional teacher association. Cherri Sabala, NWPE Board Member, presented the grant award which will fund purchase of special education curriculum for reading, written language, and math so that Ms. Sauer can assist students according their ability levels.

Congratulations to North Idaho STEM Charter Academy founders and NWPE members, Scott and Colleen Thomson, whose school has been approved to expand from K-8 to high school grades.  A grand prize winner of the ID21 Award, the school received a $50,000 grant for its innovative learning style by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation.  The school is featured in this winner’s video.

Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Rojas, a high school art teacher at the Idaho Arts Charter School in Nampa, ID.  Ms. Rojas has been awarded a $500 scholarship from Northwest Professional Educators to attend the National Art Education Association Conference this March in San Diego. The grant was presented at a staff meeting by NWPE representative, Ms. Leah Guelker.

Congratulations to Katie Graupman, an English teacher at Timberlake High School, in Lakeland School District, Rathdrum, ID, who was awarded the 2013 Milken Educator Award for the state of Idaho.

Congratulations to Ms. Lisa Young, a middle school math and science teacher at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, who has been awarded a $500 Classroom Grant to purchase a mat-cutting kit with safety knives and poster board.

Congratulations to Heather Marr, a Boise High School Student Council, English, and Advanced Placement Literature teacher in Boise, ID, who has been awarded a $500 scholarship from Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE).  Ms. Leah Guelker, NWPE representative, presented the award at a Language Arts Department meeting.  Ms. Marr will utilize the funds to attend and present at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference in Boston, MA.  Her presentation will focus on how to engage reluctant readers and writers in middle school using stereotype analysis which focuses on teen interests while working to explode misconceptions and helping teens gain a sense of personal and community identity.  She will demonstrate how teachers can interact effectively and respectfully with struggling students while incorporating the new Common Core State Standards in a meaningful and rigorous way.

Congratulations to Ms. Joie Cariaga, a Choir and Spanish teacher at Skyview High School, in Nampa, ID. At a recent staff meeting, Ms. Leah Guelker, NWPE representative, presented Ms. Cariaga with a $500 Classroom Grant to purchase an iPad and accessories to help her access the school's established Wi-Fi network enabling her to instruct with the aid of technology in a seamless manner.

Congratulations to Mr. Anthony Haskett, a fourth grade teacher at Ronald Reagan Elementary in Nampa, ID.  At a recent staff meeting, Ms. Leah Guelker, NWPE representative, presented Mr. Haskett with a $460 Classroom Grant to purchase two iPods to allow students to create multimedia presentations as well as use the apps to support learning in the classroom.

Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE), the state’s premier non-union, professional educator association, is pleased to announce the election of its new board of directors and officers.

Congratulations to NWPE members Linda Bruner and Keith Neuberger who received recognition by the Lakeland School District as this year's top educators.  Both math teachers, Ms. Bruner was honored as the district's Teacher of the Year and Mr. Neuberger was honored as Timberlake Junior High School's Teacher of the Year at a district awards banquet at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.

Congratulations to Mr. Matt Elven, NWPE member and math and economics teacher at Grangeville High School in Grangeville, ID.  Matt was awarded $5,000 from Smartsheet.com Inc., a fast-growing online collaboration provider.  Smartsheet.com awarded $25,000 in excellence in the classroom awards to five Idaho high school math and English teachers based on student nominations of teachers for making a positive impact on students’ lives.