Sharon High School Boasts Massachusetts 2013 Teacher Of The Year
SHARON (CBS) - A French teacher at Sharon High School has been chosen as Massachusetts' Teacher of the Year.
Kathleen Turner has been teaching French at Sharon High for the past 18 years. She says she has always known that she wanted to be a teacher. Turner says she was surprised by the award.
"It's amazing. I never would have imagined this," she said. "(I'm) so excited and so happy to be chosen to represent all teachers. For me, this award is a celebration of public education, not only of what I do."
Turner says her students inspire her every day.
Sharon High School credits Turner with having been instrumental in building the school's French program. She also regularly takes students to Paris during spring break, plans annual trips to Quebec City, and has established an exchange program with a school in Rouen, France.
"Any visit to her classroom is proof that she fosters an enriching, student-centered environment where everyone present has the opportunity to immerse themselves in the French culture, to practice language acquisition, to select from multiple learning paths, and to find and reach their potential," wrote Sharon High School Principal Jose Libano in his letter of recommendation.
Turner is now entered into the competition for National Teacher of the Year.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports
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The other five Teacher of the Year finalists for this year's award were: Scott Balicki, a Chemistry teacher at Boston Latin School in Boston; Maureen Knowlton, a Special Education teacher at Millis Middle School in Millis; Paula Plock, an Elementary Education teacher at Williamstown Elementary School in Williamstown; John Scopelleti, an English teacher at South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School in Hanover; and Alison Spade, an Elementary Education teacher at Boston Renaissance Charter Public School in Boston.
