To Lead, Serve and Support the Educational Community
430 Olds Station Road~ Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone 509.665.2610 ~ Fax 509.662.9027
  
James Wheeler Named 2006 Regional Teacher of the Year
James Wheeler

North Central ESD is proud to announce the selection of Jim Wheeler as Regional Teacher of the Year for 2006. Jim has been teaching for 29 years and is currently a Special Education teacher in the Grand Coulee Dam School District.

Jim told us that it is satisfying to him when a student utilizes the skills acquired through his instruction to achieve independence in a general or vocational class, as well as in the community. Jim has presented the district’s use of assistive technology at various conferences and through on-site visitations from other school districts. One colleague writes of Jim, “As a professional educator, Jim does not tolerate mediocrity, not in himself, nor from his colleagues or students. He models what he expects from himself and others – integrity, loyalty, courtesy, commitment, a thirst for knowledge, compassion and humor.“

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, 2005. 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 North Central ESD at (509) 665-2621.  

We congratulate Jim for this honor bestowed upon him by his fellow educators. Our best wishes go with him as he competes for the state and national Teacher of the Year awards.