Berkshire County Educator Recognition Award recipients announced

NORTH ADAMS – Three teachers from around the county have been announced as this year’s recipients of the Third Annual Berkshire County Educator Recognition Awards.

Wahconah Regional High School classics teacher Charles Bradshaw, Undermountain Elementary School third grade teacher Carol Ide and Muddy Brook Elementary School academic intervention teacher Barbara Minkler will be honored at an awards presentation on Thursday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the Church Street Center Social Hall on the campus of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA).

The awards are given by MCLA in collaboration with the Berkshire County Superintendents’ Roundtable.

“The important work that educators do is crucial in ensuring that today’s young people grow up to be tomorrow’s leaders and engaged citizens,” said Cynthia Brown, MCLA vice president of academic affairs. “We are pleased to be able to recognize the work of teachers as accomplished and creative as this year’s honorees are.”

The award presentation is free and open to the public.

Charles Bradshaw

Mr. Bradshaw has been teaching for 47 years, 28 of those spent teaching the classics at Wahconah. In addition to his work as a teacher, he has spent extensive time outside of the classroom with various extracurricular activities, including yearbooks and Latin clubs.

He is also responsible for starting Wahconah’s senior assembly program, which honors the senior class in front of the entire high school.

“Those of us who know of all he does cannot but see him as truly an example for other teachers,” Central Berkshire Regional School District Superintendent William J. Cameron said.

Mr. Bradshaw has received previous educational accolades from the Classical Association of New England, the Classical Association of Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley Classical Association.

Carol Ide

Ms. Ide has worked as a teacher for 26 years, incorporating her other professional experience as a musician (including a stint in Shenandoah, Arlo Guthrie’s band).

“We rap the continents, we sing about habitats, I share the stage with my students when we dance geometric shapes and addition and subtraction problems,” she said of her integration of music and performance into teaching.

In her nomination for the award, Ms. Ide was also recognized as a leader in environmental education for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, citing her work to develop a trail to a vernal pond near Undermountain.

Barbara Minkler

Ms. Minkler has had various teaching roles in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District for 22 years.

“My job as a teacher is to ensure that I give each and every one of my students what they need in order to reach their potential,” she said of her role as an academic intervention teacher.

BHRSD administrators particularly noted her commitment to doing an “outstanding job for all students,” including English language learners, and her ability to adapt the way she teaches in response to student needs.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on May 2, 2013. Filed under Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry