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MTA Annual Meeting recognizes award winners

Special Recognition Award for the 2003 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year: Melinda Pellerin-Duck

MTA President Catherine Boudreau introduced Pellerin-Duck, a federal magnet program resource teacher at the High School of Science in Springfield, as a teacher who "has made a difference in the lives of her students, her schools and her community.

"Melinda has helped create and implement innovative curricula on such topics as global issues," Boudreau continued. "As as advisor to the school's mock trial team, she helped the High School of Commerce become the first Western Massachusetts inner-city school to make it to the finals of the state mock trial competition. Her team won third place!"

MTA ESP Award: Eileen Norton

Norton, a paraprofessional from Malden's Forestdale School, teaches life skills to students with severe multiple handicaps. Her nominator recalled this story:

"Eileen had a family wedding and took a personal day off from work. She was concerned that one of the students would not get his feeding tube on time. Our school nurse was out sick at the time. At 11:00 a.m. on her personal day, Eileen came into the class, straight from the hairdresser, and hooked her student up to the feeding tube. Several other ESPs saw her and asked "Why are you here? You must really love your job.'

"She replied, ‘I wanted to make sure my student got his feeding in time.'"

MTA President's Award: Kimberly Thurlow

Thurlow, a Winchendon High School senior, became an accidental heroine when she confronted Mitt Romney during his visit to her "underperforming" school district.

"I had only heard the day before that special needs students I work with have to take the [MCAS] test," Kim wrote about the visit. "I found such a requirement to be ridiculous. I never really thought of saying anything. …It was when the governor opened the floor for questions that I found myself on my feet and introducing the governor to one of the students I work with.  I felt it necessary that he meet one of the many special needs students he is testing. It is time that someone arose for those who cannot stand and speak for those who cannot speak."

In conferring the President's Award, Boudreau said of Kim, "You have compassion and courage—which are among the most important qualities of a successful teacher, even though neither can be measured on a standardized test."

MTA Friend of Education: Jeffrey Ryan

Ryan, a Reading High School history teacher, is Massachusetts Teacher of the Year 2003. He came to national attention this year when he declined to attend a Washington reception with Secretary of Education Rod Paige, following Paige's characterization of the NEA as a  "terrorist organization."

In an email message that was spread quite literally around the world, Ryan said:

"…I am sorry that, considering Secretary Paige's recent remarks about the NEA and the teaching profession, I no longer feel that his invitation is sincere; neither do I feel that he will be providing a healthy and constructive environment in which to enhance the education of our young people."

"For his excellent work as both a teacher and as an advocate for students and educators, we thank Jeffrey Ryan with this award. He does more than just teach his students about courageous figures in history who stood up for what they believed in. He serves as a great role model by demonstrating how that can be done in our everyday lives."

Ryan, who was attending his son's high school graduation, addressed the delegates via a video tape.