TEACHER TAKES HOME THE `OSCAR' SULPHUR SPRINGS' TREDICK WINS $25,000 MILKEN AWARD.Byline: CONNIE LLANOS llanos (yä`nōs), Spanish American term for prairies, specifically those of the Orinoco River basin of N South America, in Venezuela and E Colombia. Staff Writer CANYON COUNTRY -- With awards season in full swing, a Canyon Country teacher received an accolade of her own Tuesday morning when she was surprised with a $25,000 ``Oscar of Teaching.'' Kim Tredick, who teaches fifth grade at Sulphur Springs Sulphur Springs, city (1990 pop. 14,062), seat of Hopkins co., NE Tex., in a farm area; inc. 1859. Vegetables, wheat, rice, and corn are grown, and livestock and dairying are important. There is clay and timber in the area. Community School, received thunderous thun·der·ous adj. 1. Producing thunder or a similar sound. 2. Loud and unrestrained in a way that suggests thunder: thunderous applause. applause at a school assembly when presented with the no-strings Milken National Educator Award. ``This was totally unexpected,'' Tredick said. ``I guess I'm taking everyone to lunch.'' Philanthropist and education reformer Lowell Milken, chairman of the Milken Family Foundation Milken Family Foundation is a charity trust established by Lowell Milken and Michael Milken in 1982. External links
``Without a doubt, we live in the best country in the world,'' Milken said. ``We do so many things right, but one of the things we don't do enough is honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. and reward our teachers.'' Known as a staff leader at the elementary school elementary school: see school. , Tredick mentors teachers, works with parents and challenges students of all levels. Tredick's own fifth-grade teacher from her days as a Sulphur Springs student, John Claunch, was there Tuesday and not surprised to see her honored. ``She was always a sweet, hard-working kid,'' he said. Principal Judy Veale said Tredick's dedication sets her apart. ``She is always there for her children.'' Fellow teachers also praised Tredick's work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work . ``She made such a positive first impression within the first few days of being here,'' fourth-grade teacher Gia Ingino said. ``It is just one great thing after another with her. She is a super teacher.'' Sixth-grader Michelle Hogan hogan Dwelling of the Navajo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico. The hogan is roughly circular and constructed usually of logs, which are stepped in gradually to create a domed roof. called Tredick her ``favorite teacher ever.'' The lanky lank·y adj. lank·i·er, lank·i·est Tall, thin, and ungainly. See Synonyms at lean2. lank  i·ly adv. 11-year-old said Tredick helped her improve in reading, which she had struggled with for a while. ``She always made sure I could catch up and never got mad at me,'' Hogan said. ``She made learning interesting.'' The Milken award has no formal application process and selects candidates, without their knowledge, via a commission appointed by state education departments. The criteria include educational accomplishments and talent, an engaging presence and a strong potential for professional leadership. A Valencia resident and mother of two boys, 14 and 12, Tredick said her 15 minutes of fame were nice, but not her best experience as as a teacher. In her 19th year of teaching, Tredick said she feels the students provide her biggest reward. A few years ago, Tredick had a problematic boy in her third-grade class. Two years later, she had him again in fifth grade. ``He was below basic in every area, and I worked so hard to try to change his environmental issues so he could just believe in himself.'' Six years later, that boy came back to thank her and tell her he was on the honor roll honor roll n. A list of names of people worthy of honor, especially: a. A list of students who have earned high grades during a specified period. b. A list of people who have served in the armed forces. . ``When you go into teaching, you are not doing it for public recognition but because you see how the kids benefit from what you do. That is the real reward.'' connie.llanos@dailynews.com (661) 257-5254 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Kim Tredick, who teaches fifth grade at Sulphur Springs Community School, gets hugs from her students after receiving the $25,000 Milken National Educator Award at a school assembly on Tuesday. ``This was totally unexpected,'' Tredick said. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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