By: Jeffrey D. Wagner
Published: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Herald News
Freetown, MA

FREETOWN - First-grade teacher Shelly Fournier does not look for perfection from her students but looks for improvement. And she always gives her students an opportunity to do better. That is what one Freetown Elementary School student wrote about Fournier, who was named Teacher of the Year by the Wal-Mart of Raynham.

Fournier, a 15-year teacher at the school, was honored at a ceremony Thursday morning. Fournier received a $1,000 check from Wal-Mart after both parents and former students wrote nomination letters.

One mother, Laurieanne Saniuk, even phoned parents in the community and encouraged them to nominate Fournier.
Soft-spoken and always smiling, as some of her nomination letters indicated, Fournier said after the ceremony that she is happy that the school will get some positive recognition from her award.

“A reward for one person is a reflection on the entire school,” she said, adding that she works with an excellent staff.

“So many people praise our teachers, and in Shelly’s case they took some definitive action and wrote letters to an outside business,” Principal Robert Frizelle said.

Frizelle said not many people know about the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year contest, but is beginning to gain momentum. He said Fournier also received nominations at the Dartmouth Wal-Mart and received nine nominations out of the 16 this past year at the Raynham store.

While Fournier quickly pointed out that her award was a result of a team effort, Frizelle said the honor speaks volumes about her as a teacher.

“I think Mrs. Fournier is an excellent teacher and well deserving of the credit,” Frizelle said. “She is an excellent representation of the staff we have at the elementary school. It is a great honor and she is a great person to receive that honor.”

Fournier launched her teaching career 17 years ago and settled at Freetown Elementary School in 1994. She received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Bridgewater State College and later earned a master’s degree from Framingham State College.

She has taught second grade for most of her career, but moved to first grade this year as a result of budget cuts. Although she did not learn of the switch until late in the summer, Fournier said she is still delighted to teach first-graders. She said she is allotted more time to read to students in the first grade, which is one of her favorite activities with the children.

According to the nomination letters provided by Wal-Mart, Fournier’s students seemed to enjoy her activities and her classroom personality.

One fourth-grade student who had Fournier two years ago remembered how they both shared a catch phrase — “back in the day.” Some lauded her for her sense of humor, intelligence, and ability to make learning fun.

Fournier said she spent $500 this past summer on school supplies. Luckily, she will be reimbursed by her Wal-Mart check, which must be spent on school-related expenses. Fournier said that won’t be a problem.

“Every penny of it will go to students at the school,” she said.

By: Karen Langley, Monitor Staff
Published: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Concord Monitor

It's not every day Dorothy Konrad leaves her first-grade classroom at Northwood School with something to show Mom. After all, she's the teacher.

But she plans to take her Teacher of the Year certificate, presented yesterday by the local Wal-Mart, to York, Maine, where her elderly mother lives.

"She'd be proud," Konrad said.

Nearly 50 first-graders squeezed into Konrad's classroom yesterday morning to witness a surprise presentation of the award by Principal Esther Asbell and Nina Laramee, 8, who read an essay she'd prepared about her favorite teacher.

"Mrs. Konrad is the best," said Laramee, a third-grader who sported pink rubber clogs beneath her jeans. "She taught me more than I should know."

Konrad wore a large smile above her dark denim jumper as Laramee continued: "Mrs. Konrad helped me know how to read and not to write in giant letters."

When told Northwood School would receive a $1,000 check from Wal-Mart, more than one first-grader exclaimed, "Whoa!" before applauding. Konrad also received a gift certificate to the store.

Now in her 21st year at Northwood, Konrad is one of the school's veteran teachers, one whose example other teachers watch, Asbell said.

Konrad decided she wanted to teach when she was 16 years old, and she taught for 18 years in New York state after she graduated from college. It's the challenge of teaching students to read that continues to motivate her each year, she said.

"It's wonderful to watch children grow," she said.

Laramee's mother, Jen Laramee, initially suggested Konrad receive the award. She said her daughter's love for reading has only grown since Nina first emerged from her bedroom reading the lines of a children's book.

"She encourages kids to try their hardest," Jen Laramee said. "She's the picture of what a teacher is."

By: Ellen W. Todd, Sanford News Writer
Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008
Foster's Daily Democrat

SANFORD - Math teacher Jon Jacques was taken completely by surprise Saturday night at the Sanford High football game — not by the game, but by the halftime presentation.

Jacques, who has been teaching math at Sanford High School for 10 years, was named Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year by the Sanford Wal-Mart for his time and dedication to SHS students. In addition to teaching math, Jacques is the golf coach, assistant swim coach and Peer Helpers' adviser.

"Mr. Jacques helps students one-on-one whenever needed and the fact that he treats his students as equals helps [make] learning math easier," wrote SHS senior Ali Frechette, who nominated Jacques for the award. "He relates the subject to examples that students can relate to... " the nomination continued.

A graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington, Jacques has spent his entire teaching career (so far) at Sanford High and said he has taught almost the entire spectrum of math courses, from algebra to pre-calculus.

"I enjoy myself in the classroom and I try to make it fun for them," he said in a phone interview this week. He said he uses humor, jokes and puns — puns that, he said with a chuckle, are sometimes well received, sometimes not. Whatever the method, he shows students he is excited about math.

Since he lives in Old Orchard, he said there was a "little bit of trickery involved" in making sure he was at Saturday night's game for the presentation. First, Principal Al Young asked him if he could attend the game to help out. It wasn't an unusual request, since he usually helps at a game each season. Then, he said, Young and Athletic Director Gordon Salls asked him "to help with something down on the field" at half-time. "Before I knew it I was holding the big check," he said.

Sanford Wal-Mart Manager Mandi Cotter presented the award, and a giant "check" for $1,000 made out to Sanford High School, to Jacques at the 50-yard line at half-time. The money is a grant to be used for a project of the winning teacher's choice. Each Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year also receives a $100 store gift card.

Since Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year began in 1995, more than 30,000 outstanding teachers have been honored nationwide and more than $29 million has been contributed to local schools, according to a company press release. This year, the Wal-Mart Foundation will provide nearly $5 million to schools across the country.

Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
North Adams Transcript

Elizabeth Jackson, a math teacher at Gabriel Abbott Memorial School in Florida, was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award from Wal-Mart. Her recognition includes a $100 gift card for her classroom and $1,000 for the school. From left are Jackson, North Adams Wal-Mart Store Manager James Rutherford and Wal-Mart Community Coordinator Lee Randall.

By: Jenn Smith, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Published: Tuesday , October 21, 2008
The Berkshire Eagle
Pittsfield, MA

Motivated by their students and supported by their fellow staffs, two local teachers were recently honored with the 2008 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year award.

Sheila Chesney and Elizabeth Jackson were among 38 honorees recognized by Wal-Mart stores across the state. Each award recipient receives $1,000 for their school and a gift card for supplies.

Chesney has taught for 38 years, mostly in kindergarten, at Allendale Elementary School in Pittsfield.

Chesney was nominated by Principal Carl Ameen, who described Chesney as a teacher who "genuinely loves her job and her students, and gives them a great start to their education."

Asked why she sticks with teaching, Chesney said "The kids are just so enthusiastic. Their innocence is great to see. Every day is new to them."

Jackson is a teacher of seven years, and has taught math at the middle school level at Gabriel Abbott Memorial School in Florida for most of her tenure. She also taught briefly in Lenox Public Schools.

Nominator Heidi Dugal, a former colleague of Jackson's, said Jackson "does whatever she can to help (students) learn and feel important." Dugal also described the math teacher as being very involved in after school activities and supporting and mentoring her colleagues.

In addition to being able to work with a staff that is "beyond extraordinary," Jackson said she loves teaching because of her middle school students.

"The kids, they just make you laugh. They get a bad rap in middle school, but there's a lot of kids who just really want to learn, and it keeps me coming back for more," she said.

The Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year honorees are selected through a balloting process held in their respective community's Wal-Mart store.

By: Catherine Buday
Published: Thursday , October 23, 2008
Hudson Sun
Hudson, MA

Hudson High School Principal John Stapelfeld remembers 1983 graduate Mike Nanartowich as outstanding both in the classroom and as a member of the ice hockey team. 

So he was especially proud last week when Nanartowich, who is now a science teacher at the high school, won the local Wal-Mart's Teacher of the Year award. 

Stapelfeld, teachers, dozens of students and Wal-Mart representatives crowded into the hallways to surprise Nanartowich.

“He was a very hardworking student and an excellent hockey player,” said Stapelfeld. “And he's very well respected as a teacher.”

An anonymous student nominated Nanartowich for the Wal-Mart award. “This teacher has a passion for his students and the subject that he teaches,” the student wrote. He makes his class both challenging and exciting. I have never met a teacher who worked harder and is more dedicated than him. He nominates his students for awards, gives them scholoarships, helps them through any challenges and is the hockey coach.”

Nanartowich, who teaches anatomy, physics and biology, is the second teacher in a row to win the Wal-Mart award, which is open to teachers in Hudson, Marlborough, Stow and other communities near the Hudson Wal-Mart.  Last year fellow HHS teacher Julie Snyder won the distinction. 

He won a $1,000 grant for Hudson High School and a $100 gift card to use at Wal-Mart. Nanartowich said he'll use his $1,000 in prize money for classroom supplies.

“I’m very honored,” he told the well-wishers who surrounded him outside his classroom, “but everybody in this building deserves to be teacher of the year.”

Stapelfeld said that Nanartowich is “exceptional with using technology in the classroom.”

“He utilizes a lot of online material from colleges and brings it into the classroom,” the principal said. “He really does go above and beyond.”

Nanartowich every year also funds a scholarship from his own pocket for a deserving graduating senior who is planning to pursue a science major in college.

Wal-Mart chose the Hudson High teacher from 18 nominees from area schools. According to Wal-Mart Community Relations Manager Mark Ropi, any teacher in the schools is eligible.

Since the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year program begain in 1995, the Wal-Mart Foundation has honored more than 30,000 teachers nationwide and donated more than $29 million to local schools.

Mike Nanartowich, in the blue shirt, with some of his students and with Mark Ropi and Dr. Cynthia Troller of Wal-Mart.

By: Kim Ledoux
Published: Sunday, October 26, 2008
South Coast Today

FREETOWN — First-grade teacher Shelly Fournier was expecting a typical Friday at Freetown Elementary School, but suddenly she was called out to the school's front lawn to be honored as a Teacher of the Year by Wal-Mart Inc.

"I was in shock. I had no idea. The whole school was gathered together," Ms. Fournier said after the Oct. 3 presentation.

Ms. Fournier, 38, was named Teacher of the Year by the Raynham Wal-Mart, after nine of the 16 nominations the store received were for her.

"This is a really nice thing for the school. All the teachers here do a great job every day. I am really surrounded by the best," Ms. Fournier said. "I was a student at Freetown Elementary, and all I ever wanted to do was grow up and be a teacher at

this school."

Ms. Fournier attended Apponequet Regional High School and holds a bachelor's degree from Bridgewater State College and a master's from Framingham State College.

As a Teacher of the Year, Wal-Mart gave her a $1,000 grant to use toward an educational program of her choice and a $100 gift certificate.

A number of parents wrote in nominations, but the majority came from current and former students.

"Mrs. Fournier is smart and she always makes learning fun. She tells us that she is not looking for perfection. She is looking for improvement, and she gives us chances to do better. She treats everyone fairly and she always smiles," wrote Allison Cravinho, a second-grader.

Cassandra Saniuk wrote, "She is the sweetest and nicest person and teacher the world can offer. Mrs. Fournier uses songs to help us learn. She always takes the time to teach the class until everyone understands."

Parents spoke of how their children achieve academically in Ms. Fournier's class.

"The strongest indication of Mrs. Fournier's impact on students is the number of requests of parents each year who want their children to be in her room," Sue Cabral said. "My son is having a wonderful time in her classroom this year."

Principal Robert Frizelle called Ms. Fournier "One of the outstanding teachers in an outstanding staff," adding that Ms. Fournier is quick to earn the respect of both parents and students.

Ms. Fournier plans to use the grant toward educational materials to help with her new grade level.

David Imhoff, Community Connection representative for the Raynham Wal-Mart, said the Teacher of the Year Program takes place in Wal-Marts all over the country.

A Freetown educator was eligible because the town is considered to be within the Raynham Wal-Mart District.

"Teachers can use the grant for classroom supplies or educational programs. I know that nowadays teachers have to take money out of their own pockets for things they need for their students, which is sad. Wal-Mart hopes that this program acknowledges the hard work they do and helps offset some of the costs," Mr. Imhoff said.

The Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Program is open to certified pre-kindergarten-through-high-school teachers working at accredited public, parochial or private schools.

Shelly Fournier, second from left, was named Teacher of the Year. With her are, in the front row, Ryan Richard, Zachary Roberge and Noah Cabral. Standing in the background are Freetown Elementary School Principal Robert Frizelle and Elizabeth and Jay Fournier, Shelly’s daughter and husband.

By: Reformer Staff
Published: Monday, October 27, 2008
Brattleboro Reformer

HINSDALE, N.H. -- A 3rd-grade teacher at Hinsdale Elementary School has recently been awarded the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009, according to school principal Jurg Jenzer.

The teacher, Ann King, was nominated by community members in the region and received an award certificate for her achievement.

She also received a $100 personal spending card and $1,000 for the school, which she donated entirely to the local PTA playground fundraising efforts.

By: Adam Leech
Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Seacoast Online

NEWINGTON — Wal-Mart confirmed what many in the Newington community already knew when they awarded Megan Guare Teacher of the Year Tuesday.

Guare was the third Newington Public School teacher to receive the award. Each Wal-Mart store accepts nominations and hands out an award to a teacher in its community, which for Newington’s store covers most of Seacoast New Hampshire and southern Maine.

Guare, who teaches kindergarten and first grade, was "stunned" by the announcement, which was part of a surprise presentation by Robin Labrie, community involvement coordinator for the Newington store.

"I think it’s a great celebration of the school," said Guare, who received a $100 gift card and a plaque. "I think it speaks to all the hard work that goes on here. And they’re great kids. They make it fun."

Labrie said Guare was chosen from 70 nominees because she embodies what teaching is about.

"How can you not celebrate someone that just inspires those students?" said Labrie. "Without that inspiration they don’t learn, they have no desire to learn. If you inspire them to learn, they’re so much better for it."

Principal Helen Rist said Guare, in her 27th year at the school, is considered the local historian because of her knowledge of the community and the people in it.

"She is Newington school," said Rist. "When people talk about Newington school, they say ‘Megan Guare teaches there right? She knows the families, she’s taught generations of families, she knows the history and it’s really amazing to watch older kids come back to see her. She’s part of the tradition here."

Megan Guare received Wal-Mart's "Teacher of the Year" award Tuesday.