EDUCATOR BUILDS SELF-ESTEEM; TEACHER FROM CONTINUATION SCHOOL HONORED.Byline: Mary F. Pols Daily News Staff Writer Right off the bat, Paulette Blumstein noticed something missing when she started teaching English at Zane Grey Noun 1. Zane Grey - United States writer of western adventure novels (1875-1939) Grey High School in Reseda. There was no yearbook, no way of keeping track of who attended the continuation school continuation school: see vocational education. and no lasting means for celebrating the accomplishments of its students. ``Students felt they were attending a lesser school, a continuation school, and therefore didn't merit the memories and activities of traditional high school students,'' Blumstein said. ``I feel differently.'' Three years later, thanks to her, Zane Grey has a yearbook. And now, the kids receive much-needed praise for their accomplishments. ``These kids have been sort of lost in the other schools they've attended,'' she said. ``It's important to let them know that they can do things.'' On Wednesday, Blumstein received some praise herself when she was named Teacher of the Year by the Encino Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the dedication she brings to her job. She received the award from Mayor Richard Riordan Richard J. Riordan (born May 1, 1930) is a Republican politician from California, U.S. who served as the California Secretary of Education from 2003–2005 and as Mayor of Los Angeles from 1993–2001. Riordan ran for Governor of California unsuccessfully in 2002. at a luncheon at the Braemar Country Club in Encino. Tossing off a Hollywood reference, Riordan compared the eight finalists for the teaching award to the character actor Ed Harris For other persons of the same name, see Edward Harris. Edward Allen Harris (born November 28, 1950) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, known for his performances in The Right Stuff, The Abyss, Apollo 13, Pollock, and played in the movie ``Apollo 13,'' who refused to accept that the malfunctioning spaceship might never return from its problematic trip. ``That is what these great teachers up here believe - that failure is not an option,'' Riordan said. The keynote speaker at the luncheon was John Wooden, the legendary former coach of the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX basketball team. Wooden began his career as an English teacher and had plenty of praise for dedicated teachers. ``Teaching is the second most important profession as far as the future is concerned,'' Wooden said. ``The first is parenting.'' Finalists included Sam Baltimore of the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies (also Sherman Oaks CES or SOCES) is a (magnet) public school in the San Fernando Valley, Southern California, United States. ; Beverly Chalk Fried of Nestle Elementary School elementary school: see school. ; Bela Palagyi of Reseda High School Reseda High School, established in 1955, is located in the Reseda section of Los Angeles, California, United States. The current principal of Reseda High is Alfredo Tarin. The mascot of Reseda High is the Regent, a lion welding a crown and a scepter. ; Marsha Rubenhold of Emelita Elementary School; Min Shimoyama of Portola Middle School; Julie Walden of Encino Elementary School; and Linda Zimmerman of Wilbur Elementary. Blumstein received $850 and a gleaming plaque. The others took home checks for $425 each, to be used in the classroom. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Mayor Richard Riordan, left, presents a plaque to Paulette Blumstein, named Teacher of the Year by the Encino Chamber of Commerce. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion