FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE N.R. #129, 3/10/00
Date: March 10, 2000
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703)791-8720
DALE CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION HONORS TEACHERS, STUDENT
The Dale City Civic Association recently honored three Prince William County Public Schools teachers as its teachers of the year and a Gar-Field High School student as its Young Citizen of the Year. Erin Nesheim, fifth grade teacher at King Elementary School, was selected as Elementary Teacher of the Year. The association's selection for Middle School Teacher of the year was David Gilbert, who teaches French and German at Godwin Middle School; and the High School Teacher of the Year is Judy Zophy, teacher of the educable mentally retarded at Gar-Field High School. Kirsten Rowe, a junior at Gar-Field High School, was chosen as Youth Citizen of the Year.
Fifth grade team leader at King Elementary, she serves as sponsor of the Student Council Association. Nesheim is also active with the school's PTO and is the organizer of a number of events, including fundraisers, Operation Turkey, and holiday toy collection.
According to her nominator, King principal Gary Shaw, "Mrs. Nesheim is the consummate teacher. She gives completely of herself to help her students achieve to the fullest of their ability."
Currently a teacher of French and German at Godwin Middle School, Gilbert has previously taught learning disabled students and a multiage class made up of third, fourth and fifth grade students. He developed the exploratory foreign language curriculum used at Godwin and teaches French and German in the school’s International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program, as well as traditional French I. He is the faculty advisor for the newspaper and literary magazine clubs, the spelling bee sponsor, a member of the Assessment Committee and chairperson for the Discipline Committee.
Judy Zophy, the High School Teacher of the Year, is "competent, committed, compassionate and collaborative," says LaVerne Yates, visiting teacher/school social worker. A teacher in the school division for twenty-two years, she has taught the educable mentally retarded as well as the learning disabled. She has been coordinator of special education at Gar-Field for more than ten years and initiated mainstreaming at the school. Under her direction, the program has grown from seventy students to 225.
Kirsten Rowe, daughter of Harriett and Dennis Rowe, was recognized for her contributions to the community, including her participation in the SADD Red Ribbon campaign, service on the Youth Advisory Council, and feeding the homeless, among other activities.
Other nominees for Teachers of the Year were: Susan Hunt, Kerrydale Elementary; Malinda Spencer, Saunders Middle School; Patricia Chimento, Beville Middle School; and Walter Bailey, Hylton High School.
Also nominated for Youth Citizen of the Year were Megan Garrett, Sabrina Hersi-Issa, Keanna Scott, Charlotte Fore, Andrea Peele, Micah Smith, Gregory Lawrence Nee and Karemah Hotaki.
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