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BFUHS History Teacher, Craig Divis, Named Vermont Teacher of the Year
Craig Divis with his parents, September 15, 2009
Bellows Falls Union High School history teacher, Craig Divis, was named Vermont teacher of the year today by the State Board of Education. The Commissioner of Education, Armando Vilaseca, presented Divis with this distinguished award at the high school, after he and the State Board of Education spent the day in Bellows Falls, conducting their monthly board meeting and having lunch provided by the family and consumer sciences class. Divis thanked his students, who he said inspire him every day. “You are the reason I work so hard and put so much time and effort into my class every single day,” Divis said. He thanked his parents, who traveled from Ohio to be with him today. “I share this award with my mother, who never got the recognition she deserved as a teacher, and who was
teacher of the year every year to me” said Divis. BFUHS principal, Christopher Hodsden nominated Divis for this award. The selection process included several interviews and visits to Divis’ classroom.
The mission of the Vermont Teacher of the Year Program is to promote the profession and recognize the best teaching professionals who are implementing "best practices" within classrooms. Vermont’s recipient represents the many excellent teachers in our state.
The Teacher of the Year is chosen through a thorough application and selection process. In accordance with national guidelines, Vermont chooses a candidate who is "dedicated and highly skilled, a candidate proven capable of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn." Because the Teacher of the Year will be asked to travel, speak on behalf of education and demonstrate master teaching skills, the candidate must be poised, articulate and energetic in order to meet the demanding responsibilities.
Although Divis will continue to teach full time during this year, he will make himself available for speaking engagements and content consultations in his area of expertise when possible. The Vermont Teacher of the Year also becomes a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award. For more than 40 years our nation has honored teachers with the National Teacher of the Year Program. The National Teacher of the Year Program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers and sponsored by ING Foundation.
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