{Ron Scutt} North Central ESD is proud to announce the selection of Ron Scutt, Stehekin School teacher, as the 2011 Regional Teacher of the Year. Ron has been teaching for 37 years and currently serves as the head teacher of a one-room school, grades 1st through 8th in Stehekin, Washington.
Ron states “During fifth grade, I experienced a moment of profound implication. Sitting in the classroom on a beautiful spring day, a precisely clear thought entered my mind. I was inspired. The thought that set the course of my life towards teaching was a simple one, ‘I want to be like Mr. Brewer. I want to be a teacher.’
All in all, Mr. Brewer convinced me I could learn. He saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. Like all of his students, I knew I had value in his eyes. This was inspirational. The seed of my professional future emerged on that spring afternoon when I realized, ‘I want to be like Mr. Brewer; I want to be a teacher.’”
Ron wrote “This morning a student arrived at 5:45. He stepped through the door just ahead of me. Early arrivals of this nature are not unheard of, but his presence so early in the morning was out of the norm. He and I have a regular schedule starting at seven each morning when we work for a half hour on reading and math skills before school begins. Today he was early, smiling and ready to get to work. I was thrilled with his presence. Other bright, smiling children arrived by seven. They gathered round my chair bubbling with conversation. He and I finished our work. On a day when a student who struggles to learn leads the way through the door at 5:45 a.m., I feel I am accomplishing something important. All in all, my greatest accomplishments are reflected in the faces of past and present student friends.”
Renee Hudak, Stehekin’s Board Chair, wrote “Ron has a challenging situation here in our small and remote community. He simultaneously teaches a class of 1st through 8th grades. He often has the same students year after year. Keeping them engaged and excited can be challenging, but he does it with ease and expertise.
Ron has mastered the ability to do so by deeply understanding how children learn and develop. He provides opportunities for students to learn through activities that stimulate the brain and develop the small and large motor skills through arts and music as well as physical activities. By combining multiple disciplines together such as science, social studies, writing, math and the arts, the children are engaged and excited as they dive into in-depth studies producing well thought-out assignments and conclusions. He has the younger and older students work together throughout the day, fostering a positive learning environment in the classroom.”
Dr. Rich McBride, Consulting Superintendent for Stehekin School District, wrote “I have watched in amazement as Ron creates the most extraordinary learning environment for the K-8 students in this one-room school in Stehekin where he has served as a teacher for the past 34 years. As I observe his teaching, I am constantly struck by not only the exceptional teaching skills he exhibits, but also the wonderful ways that he utilizes the students to engage and assist one another across the grade levels…while always making sure the content is appropriate to the student’s ability.”
Nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) participate in the state Teacher of the Year (TOY) program by selecting one winner from the school district nominees in their area to serve as regional teacher of the year. Each regional winner completes the state application and then competes with the other eight winners for Washington State Teacher of the Year. The review and selection process will occur in late September 2010. At that time one teacher will be selected to represent Washington State in the National Teacher of the Year Program. The nine winners will continue to represent their regions in activities for the TOY program, including a spring reception in Olympia attended by the Governor.
The state Teacher of the Year receives special trainings in Huntsville, Alabama, and three days in Washington, D.C., participating in the National Teacher’s Forum sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Teacher of the Year is honored in ceremonies at the White House, Washington, D.C., and a one-year sabbatical that enables him/her to serve as a spokesperson for all teachers and educators across the nation. For further information about this program, please contact Sariann Meredith, North Central ESD at 665.2621.
We send our congratulations to Ron for this honor bestowed upon him by his fellow educators and our best wishes as he competes for the state and national Teacher of the Year awards.
