2005 Milken National Educator Award Recipients
Mark Schreiber
By the time students complete Mark
Schreiber's class, they've learned far more
and had more fun than they thought possible.
Whether they're building catapults in his
pre-engineering class, improving the senior
lounge or fixing staff members' computers,
students learn from Mr. Schreiber the true
outcomes of what they are learning. Dedicated
to providing students with expansive learning
opportunities, he designed an I2I (Innovation
in Technology Integration) lab to help them
gain a more comprehensive understanding and
real-world view of the subjects they
study.
Since arriving at Frontier Academy, Mr.
Schreiber has demonstrated tremendous
initiative in developing technology classes
that are "hands-on and minds-on." For
example, Mr. Schreiber created a Mock Mission
to Mars that culminated in an imaginary field
trip to the planet. Long after they've
graduated, kids still talk about the work
they did in his class.
Jane Vahle
When students at Bear Creek High School
need to be pulled out of class for routine
scheduling meetings, they ask that the
meetings not cause them to miss Jane Vahle's
class. What makes them value her instruction
so much is her contagious excitement about
knowledge and love of learning, backed up by
sound pedagogical expertise and a
differentiated curriculum that matches the
material to individual student needs and
learning styles.
Using artwork of the Harlem Renaissance to
stimulate a discussion about describing
images in words or linking fantasy football
with literature to motivate students'
interest in reading, Ms. Vahle finds creative
and engaging ways to develop higher-level
thinking skills. In her first year of
teaching Advanced Placement English, she
helped 75 percent of her students pass the AP
test. Academic improvement is the norm among
her students, and yet she continues to
examine and evaluate her instructional
methods, communicating with fellow AP
teachers nationwide to see where she can do
better. Ms. Vahle and two of her colleagues
are considered model teachers throughout the
district. No wonder students are reluctant
about missing any of her classes.
For additional information about this program please contact Lynn Bamberry at: bamberry_l@cde.state.co.us.