Post by admin on May 31, 2007 17:46:22 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0531/Schools/037.html
FREEHOLD - It is said that when a person is doing what she is supposed to be doing and her life has purpose, she can do whatever that is all day and never tire of it. So it is with Lauren Filipek.
Some people take a lifetime to figure out their purpose. Filipek knew hers when she was just a child - to be a teacher.
Filipek does her job with passion and energy which is visible to anyone who watches her in action. Others have seen that special quality, too, and have honored her by naming her Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year, sponsored locally by Sam's Club of Freehold Township.
Filipek, a fourth-grade teacher at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school, Dutch Lane Road, knew nothing of the honor, which was to be bestowed upon her when she attended a Teacher Appreciation Week breakfast on May 8.
It was then that Freehold Learning Center Principal Dennis Levinson announced that Filipek had been named Teacher of the Year for the Monmouth and Ocean County areas by Sam's Club.
She received a check for $1,000 to use in the grade she teaches and a check for $100 to purchase items for her own classroom.
In an interview after she received the honor, Filipek said her feet "had not touched the ground" since she heard her name announced at the breakfast.
Class mother Kathy Wilkins was the impetus who brought the idea to life. Upon seeing the contest advertised at Sam's Club, she notified Filipek's pupils and their parents and put into place a team of people who voted for their favorite teacher. Wilkins said Filipek goes "above and beyond" what is required of her.
"She is an inspiration not just to her students, but to the parents as well. She is always approachable and makes us feel comfortable with her," Wilkins said.
According to a press release, the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year program is one of the largest teacher recognition efforts in the country. Wal-Mart will present more than $5 million this year to the schools of winning teachers. Since its inception in 1995, Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year program has recognized more than 30,000 teachers nationwide and contributed more than $28 million to local schools.
Filipek said she always wanted to be a teacher. She attended Douglass College at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and was exposed to many different professions and occupations, but teaching was where her heart was.
As one watches Filipek with her students it is not hard to see why parents entered her name for the award. She is energy in motion or as Arelis Castro, 10, said, "She is just like the Energizer bunny."
From the animation on her face to her movements and gestures as she moves back and forth from the chalkboard to the class, Filipek epitomizes the word "teacher."
On a recent day after she had received the Wal-Mart award, pupils and their parents ushered Filipek into her classroom, which had been decorated with banners, balloons and a lovely large bouquet of flowers. A crown and sparkling scepter were also provided for her.
Ella Wilkins, 10, said winning the award was a good thing for her teacher.
"She makes learning fun," Ella said. "She's the best teacher I've ever had."
Tyree Wilson, 10, said his teacher deserves the award.
"Sometimes she has to put up with a lot of nonsense from us, and still she appreciates us," Tyree said.
Tara Clancy, 9, said she is happy her teacher won this honor.
"She is the most fun teacher I've ever had. And she explains things to us more than any other teacher does," Tara said.
Callen Elsager, 10, said Filipek is a "really nice teacher," and that it is "great" to have her as his teacher.
Levinson said Filipek deserved the honor which was bestowed upon her. He said the teacher's work extends to the school community as well, not just the students.
"She is there 24/7 for her students. She's always helping out with the PTO and always volunteers for other school functions," Levinson said. "She lives in town and is always involved with her community."
Filipek said her life as a mom to her four children, Megan, 18, John, 16, Jessica, 15, and Kristen, 13, have made her a better teacher. And being a teacher in the town she lives in has always been her dream.
"I love bumping into my students at the supermarket or when we go to get ice cream in town. In this crazy world with all the big things going on in it, it is so wonderful to know there are still places like Freehold Borough where you can still have that small-town feeling and where everyone knows everyone else," she said.
The Elizabeth-born teacher instructed young children in Linden for nine years before coming to Freehold to raise her family.
When her youngest child was enrolled in kindergarten she returned to teaching as a substitute in Freehold Borough. Five years ago she went full-time, teaching fourth grade,
Filipek said it doesn't matter to her what grade she teaches as long as she is doing what she is meant to do.
"I know it sounds cliché," she said, "but it's the truth. I really want to make a difference in the life of a child. That has always been at the core of what has driven me. When I look in that face and see a child get it, that's the moment."
The teacher lives by a rule that was told to her long ago - if a teacher wants to change a student's behavior, the teacher has to change her own behavior.
"With each new group of children I teach, I myself grow. That's what makes every day fresh," she said.
In addition to her teaching skills, Filipek extends a great deal of love to her students. She said she can tell if a child needs a hug instead of academics at a particular moment.
Filipek summed up her life by saying, "Teaching is not just what I do, it's who I am."
FREEHOLD - It is said that when a person is doing what she is supposed to be doing and her life has purpose, she can do whatever that is all day and never tire of it. So it is with Lauren Filipek.
Some people take a lifetime to figure out their purpose. Filipek knew hers when she was just a child - to be a teacher.
Filipek does her job with passion and energy which is visible to anyone who watches her in action. Others have seen that special quality, too, and have honored her by naming her Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year, sponsored locally by Sam's Club of Freehold Township.
Filipek, a fourth-grade teacher at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school, Dutch Lane Road, knew nothing of the honor, which was to be bestowed upon her when she attended a Teacher Appreciation Week breakfast on May 8.
It was then that Freehold Learning Center Principal Dennis Levinson announced that Filipek had been named Teacher of the Year for the Monmouth and Ocean County areas by Sam's Club.
She received a check for $1,000 to use in the grade she teaches and a check for $100 to purchase items for her own classroom.
In an interview after she received the honor, Filipek said her feet "had not touched the ground" since she heard her name announced at the breakfast.
Class mother Kathy Wilkins was the impetus who brought the idea to life. Upon seeing the contest advertised at Sam's Club, she notified Filipek's pupils and their parents and put into place a team of people who voted for their favorite teacher. Wilkins said Filipek goes "above and beyond" what is required of her.
"She is an inspiration not just to her students, but to the parents as well. She is always approachable and makes us feel comfortable with her," Wilkins said.
According to a press release, the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year program is one of the largest teacher recognition efforts in the country. Wal-Mart will present more than $5 million this year to the schools of winning teachers. Since its inception in 1995, Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year program has recognized more than 30,000 teachers nationwide and contributed more than $28 million to local schools.
Filipek said she always wanted to be a teacher. She attended Douglass College at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and was exposed to many different professions and occupations, but teaching was where her heart was.
As one watches Filipek with her students it is not hard to see why parents entered her name for the award. She is energy in motion or as Arelis Castro, 10, said, "She is just like the Energizer bunny."
From the animation on her face to her movements and gestures as she moves back and forth from the chalkboard to the class, Filipek epitomizes the word "teacher."
On a recent day after she had received the Wal-Mart award, pupils and their parents ushered Filipek into her classroom, which had been decorated with banners, balloons and a lovely large bouquet of flowers. A crown and sparkling scepter were also provided for her.
Ella Wilkins, 10, said winning the award was a good thing for her teacher.
"She makes learning fun," Ella said. "She's the best teacher I've ever had."
Tyree Wilson, 10, said his teacher deserves the award.
"Sometimes she has to put up with a lot of nonsense from us, and still she appreciates us," Tyree said.
Tara Clancy, 9, said she is happy her teacher won this honor.
"She is the most fun teacher I've ever had. And she explains things to us more than any other teacher does," Tara said.
Callen Elsager, 10, said Filipek is a "really nice teacher," and that it is "great" to have her as his teacher.
Levinson said Filipek deserved the honor which was bestowed upon her. He said the teacher's work extends to the school community as well, not just the students.
"She is there 24/7 for her students. She's always helping out with the PTO and always volunteers for other school functions," Levinson said. "She lives in town and is always involved with her community."
Filipek said her life as a mom to her four children, Megan, 18, John, 16, Jessica, 15, and Kristen, 13, have made her a better teacher. And being a teacher in the town she lives in has always been her dream.
"I love bumping into my students at the supermarket or when we go to get ice cream in town. In this crazy world with all the big things going on in it, it is so wonderful to know there are still places like Freehold Borough where you can still have that small-town feeling and where everyone knows everyone else," she said.
The Elizabeth-born teacher instructed young children in Linden for nine years before coming to Freehold to raise her family.
When her youngest child was enrolled in kindergarten she returned to teaching as a substitute in Freehold Borough. Five years ago she went full-time, teaching fourth grade,
Filipek said it doesn't matter to her what grade she teaches as long as she is doing what she is meant to do.
"I know it sounds cliché," she said, "but it's the truth. I really want to make a difference in the life of a child. That has always been at the core of what has driven me. When I look in that face and see a child get it, that's the moment."
The teacher lives by a rule that was told to her long ago - if a teacher wants to change a student's behavior, the teacher has to change her own behavior.
"With each new group of children I teach, I myself grow. That's what makes every day fresh," she said.
In addition to her teaching skills, Filipek extends a great deal of love to her students. She said she can tell if a child needs a hug instead of academics at a particular moment.
Filipek summed up her life by saying, "Teaching is not just what I do, it's who I am."