>>> PASSIONATE, INVITING, INSPIRATIONAL.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE WITF'S 2021 TEACHER IMPACT AWARD RECIPIENTS.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE 2021 AWARD SHOW.

I'M KEIRA McGUIRE.

OVER THE NEXT HALF HOUR, WE'LL TRAVEL VIRTUALLY TO SEVEN DIFFERENT PENNSYLVANIA COUNTIES TO MEET TEACHERS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR STUDENTS.

I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT MAKES THESE EDUCATORS SO SPECIAL.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE 2021 TEACHER IMPACT AWARDS IS PROVIDED BY -- CAPITAL BLUE CROSS APPRECIATES THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES EDUCATORS FACE, AND APPLAUDS THEIR EFFORTS AND DEDICATION TO THEIR SCHOOLS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES.

CAPITAL BLUE CROSS RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT ROLE EDUCATION HAS IN PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH, AND ARE PROUD TO BE THE HEALTH PLAN PARTNER OF CHOICE FOR MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INTERMEDIATE UNITS, AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS COVERING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS.

CAPITAL BLUE CROSS IS COMMITTED TO A SHARED MISSION OF IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

MORE AT CAPITALBLUECROSS.COM.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> OUR JOURNEY WILL BEGIN IN DAUPHIN COUNTY.

HERE WE'LL MEET AND EDUCATOR WHO WAS ONCE A STUDENT IN THE SAME DISTRICT SHE'S NOW TEACHING IN.

I'M EXCITED FOR YOUR TO MEET MARKISHA PEACE.

♪♪ >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS MARKISHA PEACE.

I AM A SECOND YEAR FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AT FOOSE SCHOOL IN THE HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I WAS ALWAYS THE PERSON THAT PLAYED SCHOOL WITH EVERYONE.

I REMEMBER ALWAYS SETTING UP A CLASSROOM IN MY BASEMENT.

I, MYSELF, WAS A STUDENT FROM HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT GROWING UP.

WHEN I WAS APPLYING FOR JOBS COMING OUT OF COLLEGE, HARRISBURG WAS ACTUALLY AT THE BOTTOM OF MY LIST.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE MYSELF WITH A NEW AREA, NEW EXPERIENCES, BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT HARRISBURG WAS ONLY YES.

AND NOW LOOKING BACK ON IT, I'M SO THANKFUL THAT HARRISBURG WAS MY ONLY YES, BECAUSE I REALIZE THAT THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE I NEED TO BE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A WILD RIDE.

I STARTED IN AUGUST OF 2019, SO THERE WAS NO PANDEMIC THEN.

AND THEN MY VERY FIRST YEAR, PANDEMIC CAME IN MARCH AND UNFORTUNATELY MY FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL WAS OVER.

I DEFINITELY HAD CONCERNS.

HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT, IT'S AN URBAN AREA.

WHEN YOU SERVICE A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT, YOU KNOW, COME FROM TOUGH BACKGROUNDS AND MAY NOT HAVE FOOD AT HOME OR THE MOST SUPPORTIVE HOME LIFE.

SO I KNOW FIRST HAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN POVERTY AND NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOD IN THE HOME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO FOR ME THAT -- I FOUND MYSELF HAVING A LOT OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, JUST CONSISTENTLY WORRYING ABOUT IF THEY'RE EATING, OR IF THEY FEEL SAFE AND LOVED, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN COMING INTO THIS YEAR, WE'VE BEEN VIRTUAL SINCE AUGUST, AND WE'RE GONNA BE VIRTUAL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

TODAY I FOUND MYSELF COMMENDING THEM, AND I SAID, I HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF PROPS TO YOU GUYS, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR A FULL SCHOOL YEAR, AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW YOU ARE MY HEROES.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK UP TO YOU, BECAUSE THIS WAS CHALLENGING AND YOU ALL SURVIVED IT.

IF SOMEONE WERE TO TALK BY OR EVEN WALK INTO MY CLASSROOM, OR JOIN MY CLASSROOM FROM THE ZOOM, THEY COULD EXPECT IT TO BE LOUD AND VERY CELEBRATORY.

AND JUST A VERY WELCOMING SETTING, WHERE THEY COULD FEEL LOVED AND WELCOMED AND ACCEPTED.

CAN WE PLEASE WELCOME MARCUS GARVEY TO THE STAGE, EVERYONE.

UNMUTE YOURSELVES AND CELEBRATE!

LET'S WELCOME MR. GARVEY.

[ APPLAUSE ] UNFORTUNATELY THE WORLD THE WE LIVE IN, NO MATTER WHICH AREA, THERE MAY BE CHILDREN THAT DON'T EVEN GET TOLD "I LOVE YOU" DAILY.

SO I TRY TO BE THAT PERSON THAT IS TELLING MY KIDS THAT I LOVE THEM, AND IS TELLING THAT THEY ARE APPRECIATED, AND ARE VALUED.

SO MUCH TO THE POINT WHERE MY POSITIVE COMMENTS BECOMES THEIR SUBCONSCIOUS VOICE.

FOR THEM TO START, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING THAT INTO THEIR OWN SELVES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE, I DON'T NEED VALIDATION FROM OTHER PEOPLE, BECAUSE I KNOW I LOVE MYSELF.

>> WHOA!

NICE JOB, FOURTH GRADE.

>> SHE'S ALWAYS WORKING ON HAVING THE CHILDREN BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, AND IT'S ALL INTERTWINED IN HER TEACHING.

SO THE KIDS REALLY WALK AWAY FEELING VERY GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND WHO THEY ARE, AND THEY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES IS, "PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID.

PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU DID.

BUT PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL."

SO I HOPE THE BE THAT EDUCATOR THAT MAKES MY STUDENTS FEEL ENOUGH LOVE THAT WILL LAST THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE LIFETIME.

WHEN I FIRST READ THE EMAIL ABOUT THE TEACHER IMPACT AWARD, I ACTUALLY CRIED.

IT WASN'T NECESSARILY TEARS OF JOY, THOUGH.

I ACTUALLY CRIED TEARS OF, OH, MY GOODNESS, WHY ME?

THERE'S SO MANY OTHER TEACHERS OUT THERE THAT DESERVE THIS AWARD.

WHY ME?

AND THEN I HAD TO CHECK MYSELF, AND I SAID, "MARKISHA, CELEBRATE THE BLESSINGS YOU WERE GIVEN."

AND THEN I WAS HAPPY.

I EVEN TOLD MY STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, THIS AWARD IS NOT JUST FOR ME, IT'S FOR US.

AND I SAID THIS AWARD IT CELEBRATE US AS A FAMILY, BECAUSE IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, I WOULDN'T BE THE GREAT TEACHER THAT I AM.

>> I LOVE THAT SAYING.

"PEOPLE WILL FORGET WHAT YOU SAID AND WHAT YOU DID, BUT THEY WON'T FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL."

WELL NEXT WE'LL HEAD TO PERRY COUNTY WHERE WE'LL MEET AN EDUCATOR WHO IS SO EXCITED THAT HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A TEACHER HAS FINALLY COME TRUE.

MEET DIRK BROWN.

♪♪ >> HI, MY NAME IS DIRK BROWN.

I'M THE THIRD GRADE LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHER HERE AT SUSQUENITA ELEMENTARY.

THIRD GRADERS, WOW.

THEY'RE VERY RESPECTFUL.

THEY'RE STILL VERY MUCH RULE FOLLOWERS.

ALWAYS WANT TO PLEASE.

WE GIVE THEM ONE ON ONE INTENSIVE SUPPORT IN A SMALL GROUP SETTING TO HELP ENHANCE THEIR LEARNING IN WHATEVER SUBJECT THEY MAY BE CHALLENGED IN.

I'M ONLY IN MY SECOND YEAR OF TEACHING.

I'M A CHANGE OF CAREER INDIVIDUAL.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO TEACH AND IN 2016 I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND GRADUATED IN MAY OF 2019 AND STARTED TEACHING RIGHT AFTER THAT.

AM I GLAD?

I'M ECSTATIC.

[ LAUGHTER ] YEAH, I'M ABSOLUTELY ECSTATIC.

I MEAN, I WAITED 40 -- ALMOST 40 YEARS FOR THIS.

>> ALRIGHT, YOU WANT TO SAY HI TO EVERYBODY?

THEY'RE HERE.

>> HELLO!

>> HI.

>> HI, MACKENZIE.

ALRIGHT, JACKSON, JANELLE -- >> YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'D FIND IF YOU WALK BY MY DOOR.

MR. BROWN WEARS MANY HATS, LITERALLY.

I LIKE TO KIND OF TEACH IN CHARACTER SOMETIMES.

MAYBE A FRIEND FROM TEXAS MIGHT COME IN AND MR. BROWN LEAVES THE ROOM AND HIS FRIEND FROM TEXAS COMES IN AND -- I JUST LIKE TO MAKE IT KIDS.

>> OUTRUN WITH MR. BROWN, PLEASE.

READY?

ONE, TWO, THREE.

>> O-U-T-R-U-N!

OUTRUN!

>> OUTRUN.

>> VERY NICE.

>> I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE WHENEVER I SEE THE LIGHTBULB GO ON IN THEIR EYES.

WHEN YOU LOOK IN THEIR EYES AND YOU'RE TEACHING YOU SEE, OH, THEY'RE NOT GETTING THIS.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING THIS.

SO YOU TAKE A DIFFERENT TURN OR A DIFFERENT AVENUE, AND THEN WHEN YOU HEAR THEM GO, "OH, NOW I GET IT!"

OR YOU GO, "OH, THAT MAKES SENSE."

OR -- YOU KNOW, YOU JUST SEE THEIR EYES POP.

IT'S LIKE, UGH, YES.

YOU KNOW?

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HIT A HOMERUN AT THAT POINT.

>> EVERYBODY TELL ME TOGETHER, WHAT IS NINE TIMES TWO?

>> 18!

>> ALRIGHT, SAY IT WITH ME.

YOU GOT THIS.

>> YOU GOT THIS!

>> I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM, THAT THERE IS NO JUDGEMENTS HERE WITH THEIR LEARNING.

THERE'S ALWAYS PRAISE FOR THEM FOR DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

AND IF THEY DON'T ANSWER A QUESTION CORRECTLY, I STILL GIVE THEM THE POSITIVE PRAISE FOR TRYING AND USING THEIR BRAIN.

I LOT OF TIMES I'LL SAY TO THEM, KISS YOUR BRAIN, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT OUR BRAIN, WOULD WE?

>> EVERYBODY, WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS KISS YOUR BRAINS FOR ME PLEASE.

KISS YOUR BRAIN.

KISS YOUR BRAIN.

AND THANK YOUR BRAIN FOR WHAT IT JUST DID FOR YOU TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, BRAIN.

>> THANK YOU, BRAIN.

>> I CARE FOR THEM 100%.

AND EXCUSE ME IF I START TO GET A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL, BUT I JUST -- I LOVE THEM WITH A PASSION.

I LOVE WHAT I DO WITH A PASSION.

WHEN I LEARNED THAT I WON THE TEACHER IMPACT AWARD, I WAS EXTREMELY HUMBLED.

MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT DREAMS ARE WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING, BUT YOU NOW, MY DREAM IS EVERY DAY WAKING UP AND GETTING IN MY CAR AND COMING HERE.

I'M LIVING IT.

AND TO KNOW THAT I HAVE IMPACTED ONE AND MORE IS VERY HEARTWARMING, VERY OVERWHELMING SOME DAYS, BECAUSE I'M JUST DOING WHAT I FEEL THAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO.

BUT IT WAS VERY HUMBLING, A VERY HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

>> I LOVE ALL THE POSITIVE PRAISE THOSE KIDDOS GET IN MR. BROWN'S CLASSROOM.

WELL NEXT WE'LL HEAD TO ADAMS COUNTY WHERE YOU'LL MEET A TEACHER WHO SAYS THE CLASSROOM IS WHERE SHE'S MEANT TO SERVE.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO BETH PEART.

♪♪ >> HI, I'M BETH PEART AND I AM A THIRD GRADE TEACHER AT ALLOWAY CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I TEACH READING, WRITING AND SOCIAL STUDIES.

I FIRST REALIZED THAT I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.

I SAW PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE FROM THEIR HEART.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY GIVING TO THE CHILDREN, BUT THEY WERE ALSO GETTING SO MUCH IN RETURN.

I THINK THAT IT WAS WHERE I WAS MEANT TO BE AND WHERE I'M MEANT TO SERVE.

THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL.

WE HAD TO LEAN ON EACH OTHER AND THINGS CHANGED DAILY.

IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS TEACH YOURSELF, LEARN THIS FAST.

I JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE THROUGH IT ALL HAVE BEEN SO UNDERSTANDING AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, FORGIVING, AND SO -- THERE'S JUST SO MUCH GRACE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL LEARNING HOW TO TEACH IN A WORLD WHERE WE HAVE STUDENTS ON ZOOM ALL DAY AND WE ARE FACE TO FACE IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING.

IT IS MAY 11th.

CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS JUST LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY AND IT'S THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ALREADY.

>> THIRD GRADERS ARE AMAZING.

SO IT'S JUST THE BEST GRADE.

THEY ARE DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE AND THEY ALSO STILL LOVE THEIR TEACHER AND THEY STILL LOVE LEARNING.

SO I THINK THAT THIRD GRADE IS A GIFT TO TEACH.

THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH PARTNERS, OR THEY'RE INTERACTING IN SMALL GROUPS TO SHARE THEIR THINKING AROUND BOOKS.

>> ALRIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS, I WANT YOU TO STOP WRITING AND I JUST WANT YOU TO TURN AND TELL YOUR PARTNER WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN DOWN.

AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER.

>> SO IT GETS KIND OF NOISY AT THOSE TIMES, BUT THEN THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN ITS VERY QUIET AND VERY CHILL IN THE CLASSROOM, BECAUSE WE ALL DO OUR BEST READING AND OUR BEST THINKING WHEN IT IS QUIET.

WHENEVER I SEE A CHILD GO FROM SEEING READING AS -- OR VIEWING READING AS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE TEACHER WANTS YOU TO DO, TO OH, MY GOODNESS, I LOVE READING.

YOU KNOW LIKE, OH, AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BOOKS AND SHARING BOOKS WITH OTHER KIDS, THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TEACH.

>> AND SO REED IS OUR HANDWRITING, CURSIVE HANDWRITING CHAMPION.

GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, GUYS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I HOPE MY STUDENTS TAKE AWAY THAT THEY ARE LOVED, THAT THEY ARE VALUED, THAT THEY ARE SMART, THAT THEY ARE MORE THAN A TEST SCORE, AND THAT THEY ARE UNSTOPPABLE.

>> MRS. PEART HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THIS YEAR.

SHE HAS DONE MORE FOR JACOB THAN WE COULD HAVE EVER EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE STRANGE CONDITIONS OF COVID.

SO HIS INSTRUCTION FROM MRS. PEART'S BEEN THROUGH THE COMPUTER.

I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HAVE STUDENTS FACE TO FACE IN YOUR CLASSROOM AND ALSO WORKING ONLINE, AND BE ABLE TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT SHE'S DONE AMAZING WITH JUST BALANCING THAT ALL.

>> WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT I GOT THE TEACHER IMPACT AWARD, OH, MY GOODNESS, I WAS JUST -- I WAS SURPRISED.

I WAS SHOCKED.

I JUST KIND OF FELT GUILTY.

I FELT LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, WHY ME?

THERE ARE SO MANY DESERVING TEACHERS OUT THERE AND I WORK WITH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW.

VERY HUMBLED BY IT, BUT VERY HONORED.

>> WELL I THINK IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY BETH PEART IS RECEIVING AN IMPACT AWARD.

OUR NEXT AWARD TAKES US TO CUMBERLAND COUNTY, WHERE YOU'LL MEET A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER THAT LIKES TO BRING HIS LESSONS TO LIFE.

MEET KEITH LONG.

♪♪ >> HI, MY NAME IS KEITH LONG AND I TEACH 11th AND 12th GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES AT CUMBERLAND VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL.

I ALWAYS HAD A REALLY BIG INTEREST IN HISTORY AND I'M FASCINATED ABOUT THE PAST AND WHAT MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.

WITHOUT SOME CONTEXT OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'VE DONE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE TRYING TO LIVE WITH COLLECTIVE AMNESIA, AND I THINK IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.

I'M REALLY INTO EXPERIENTIAL HISTORY, WHICH IS TO GET THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF THEM THAT EXPERIENCED IT FIRST HAND, AND TO TRY AND GET OUR KIDS OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

THEY'VE BEEN SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL EXPERIENCES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE TYPES OF EXPERIENCES, THAT'S WHERE THE STEREOTYPES DIE.

YOU START TO SEE THE COMMON HUMANITY AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WE HAD SOME EXPERIENCES OF SOME OVERT RACISM IN OUR SCHOOL.

I WENT TO MY SUPERVISOR AND THE ENGLISH SUPERVISOR AND I SAID TO THE ENGLISH SUPERVISOR, "WE SHOULD START A BLACK CIVIL RIGHT COURSE AT OUR SCHOOL."

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I AM A WHITE MALE, IF I'M GOING TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE BLACK EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE ERA OF SEGREGATION AND EVEN NOW, I FEEL THAT PART OF MY JOB IS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET STUDENTS HEAR THOSE VOICES.

WHETHER IT'S THROUGH LITERATURE, POETRY, I WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR -- THE LADY'S NAME IS LYNDA BLACKMON LOWERY TO VISIT US ON ZOOM, AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.

I'VE HAD MINNIJEAN BROWN FROM THE LITTLE ROCK NINE THAT CAME IN.

WE'RE WORKING ON TRANSFORMING THE CULTURE OF OUR SCHOOL AND THE STUDENT BODY IS HUNGRY FOR IT.

>> MR. LONG, HE REALLY -- HE PUTS HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS WHEN IT COMES TO HIS INTERESTS AND HIS DESIRE TO CREATE MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES FOR HIS STUDENTS MORE THAN ANY TEACHER THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH.

IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE 40 MINUTES OF CLASS 180 DAYS A YEAR AND TO TALK ABOUT HISTORICAL EVENTS.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ACTUALLY SEE THAT PERSON STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM.

AND WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SAY TO MR. LONG IS THAT YOUR WORK HAS MATTERED.

HE IS CONTINUING TO HAVE AN IMPACT NOT ONLY ON THE STUDENTS OF CUMBERLAND VALLEY, BUT AN IMPACT ON THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE -- ON PARENTS, ON HIS COLLEAGUES.

SO WHAT I WOULD SAY TO MR. LONG IS THANK YOU.

>> WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT I WON THE TEACHER IMPACT AWARD, FIRST OF ALL I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH THAT -- THAT ARE SO DESERVING.

AND MY SECOND REACTION WAS I WAS JUST SO THANKFUL AND I FELT GREAT JOY.

>> I'M SO GLAD MR. LONG IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT HE'S HAVING ON HIS STUDENTS.

OUR NEXT AWARD TAKES US TO LANCASTER COUNTY, WHERE YOU'LL MEET A TEACHER WHOSE LOVE OF ART BEGAN WHEN SHE WAS JUST A GIRL.

I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO MEET LISA WOLF.

♪♪ >> HI, I'M LISA WOLF AND I TEACH ART AT J.P. McCASKEY HIGH SCHOOL IN LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHEN I WAS A KID, WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO WATCH TV UNLESS WE WERE DOING SOMETHING.

SO I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING OR CREATING SOMETHING.

I STARTED TEACHING ART IN JANUARY OF 1988.

I TEACH NINTH GRADE THROUGH 12th.

I THINK THAT ART CHALLENGES KIDS AT ALL LEVELS.

IT HELPS THEM WITH THEIR MOTOR SKILLS WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE, SOCIAL SKILLS, DECISION MAKING, RISK TAKING.

HELPS THEM TO BE INVENTIVE, SELF EXPRESSION.

♪♪ >> I HAD POLYCYSTIC KIDNEYS.

SO I'VE HAD THAT MY WHOLE LIFE, IT'S GENETIC.

AND I WAS FEELING PRETTY TERRIBLE AT THE END.

AND I THINK I WAS SICKER THAN I THOUGHT I WAS.

BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO BE ON DIALYSIS AND COME TO WORK, LIKE DO THAT AT NIGHT.

BUT -- EXCUSE ME, WHEN I WAS ON DIALYSIS I WAS PRETTY SICK.

>> SO SHE WAS ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS TO KEEP HER GOING EVERY DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'D GET THERE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND I'D SEE HER SOMETIMES BE PHYSICALLY ILL FROM THE MEDICATION, RIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT.

OR, YOU KNOW, AT SCHOOL SHE WOULD BE REALLY NOT FEELING WELL AND SHE DIDN'T TAKE A DAY OFF.

>> MY COWORKER GOT UP AT A FACULTY MEETING AND JUST PUT OUT THE PLEA THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR A KIDNEY AND, YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE WANTS TO SIGN UP TO SEE IF THEY'RE A MATCH.

SO I FELT VERY SUPPORTED BY EVERYBODY HERE.

♪♪ >> I WAS OUT FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR.

I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT, LIKE, WHO'S GOING TO SUBSTITUTE MY CLASS?

HOW ARE WE GONNA DO IT?

WE HAD A STUDENT TEACHER THAT HAD PASSED THROUGH OUR SCHOOL THAT DID A NICE JOB AND SHE HADN'T FOUND A JOB YET.

SO I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE HER COME IN AND BE MY SUBSTITUE.

I WOULD STAY IN CONTACT WITH HER.

SHE COULD RUN BY MY HOUSE AND PICK THINGS UP.

I COULD, YOU KNOW, TRY TO HELP HER AS MUCH AS I COULD.

♪♪ >> I WAS ALWAYS PLANNING TO COME BACK IN PERSON, EVEN WITH MY HEALTH CONCERNS.

SO I'M ACTUALLY HEALTHIER NOW THAN I HAVE BEEN IN RECENT YEARS.

>> SHE DOESN'T LET ANYTHING STAND IN THE WAY OF HER FINDING WAYS FOR THE KIDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT ART.

I MEAN, NOT SICKNESS, NOT PANDEMICS, NOT AGE, NOT TIME SPENT IN THE DISTRICT.

THERE'S NO EXCUSES.

SHE DOESN'T MAKE EXCUSES.

SHE JUST -- SHE DOES HER JOB AND SHE DOES IT WELL.

SHE'S REALLY IRREPLACEABLE.

WE TALK ABOUT KIND OF LIKE WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT LOOKS LIKE, SINCE SHE'S BEEN HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT COULD EVER FILL THOSE SHOES.

>> WHEN I FIRST GOT THE EMAIL SAYING THAT I HAD A TEACHER IMPACT AWARD, I PRINTED IT OFF AND TOOK IT TO MY COWORKER NEXT DOOR AND SAID, "DO YOU THINK THIS IS A SCAM OR IS THIS FOR REAL?"

I WAS VERY SURPRISED.

>> WELL I'M SO HAPPY THAT MRS. WOLF IS DOING WELL TODAY AND THAT SHE'S BACK IN THE CLASSROOM INSPIRING HER STUDENTS.

OUR NEXT AWARD TAKES US TO YORK COUNTY, WHERE YOU'LL MEET A TEACHER WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO LEAD HIS STUDENTS IN THEIR EFFORT TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

MEET STEPHEN RICHARDS.

♪♪ >> SO HI, MY NAME'S STEVE RICHARDS.

I'M IN MY 14th YEAR AT SPRING GROVE AREA HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM THE INTEGRATED ARTS CENTER COORDINATOR AND I ALSO TEACH FILM STUDIES AND VIDEO PRODUCTION.

I'VE ALWAYS FELT AS THOUGH I HAD AMAZING TEACHERS.

IT'S CONVINCED ME THAT I WAS LIKE, OH, WOW, I THINK I WOULD WANT TO DO THIS.

I WAS A HISTORY TEACHER FOR 12 YEARS, BUT I ALSO EMBEDDED MORE MOVIE STUFF.

AND THEN IT ROLLED INTO, WELL, THERE'S NO AV CLUB.

THE TV STUDIO WAS JUST A BUNCH OF STUDENTS AND A STAFFER THAT VOLUNTEERED.

THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD START TEACHING LIKE VIDEO STUFF.

LIKE, I DON'T HAVE A CAMERA.

LET'S BUY YOU A CAMERA.

AND THEN WE STARTED ENTERING FILM COMPETITIONS AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL LET'S MAKE IT A COURSE.

THAT'S WHERE IT KIND OF EVOVLED.

♪♪ >> WE HAD ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM US BY A DISEASE.

LET'S DO -- WE CAN DO EVERY LIVESTREAM.

WE CAN DO EVERY, YOU KNOW -- FOOTBALL.

WE CAN DO EVERY SOCCER GAME.

SO WE DID.

>> SO THIS IS PART OF THE CREW THAT WILL BE SETTING UP THREE LIVESTREAMS OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS.

>> WE WERE LIKE ONE OF THE ONLY SCHOOLS THAT I KNOW OF THAT ACTUALLY DRONED JUNIOR HIGH CROSS COUNTRY AND CROSS COUNTRY.

SO THAT WAS COOL.

THE KIDS JUST LIKE -- THEY SAW IT AS A CHALLENGE.

THEY'RE LIKE, WE CAN DO THIS.

IT IS REALLY, REALLY HARD TO COORDINATE THOSE THREE LIVESTREAMS IN ONE DAY, BUT WE ALL KIND OF LOVE IT.

WE LIKE THE THRILL OF THAT.

WE KNOW THAT THE GREATER GOOD IS TO HELP AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'D HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WOULD COME UP TO US AND THEY'D BE LIKE, "YOU GUYS ROCK.

THIS IS SO AWESOME."

>> SPRING GROVE IS I THINK A VERY TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY AND THEY SHOW UP FOR OUR EVENTS.

THEY SHOW UP TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

AND WHEN THE PANDEMIC TOOK AWAY THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR MOST PEOPLE, THAT WAS A VERY NEGATIVE THING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THE FACT THAT OUR ADVANCED VIDEO JOURNALISM STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, UNDER STEVE'S LEADERSHIP WERE ABLE TO BRING OUR STUDENTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LIVESTREAMING, THAT WAS VERY, VERY POWERFUL.

AND I BELIEVE IT MEANS A LOT TO OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND THEY GET IT.

THEY SEE HOW THEY'RE IMPACTING PEOPLE.

>> WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE WITF TEACHER IMPACT AWARD, I WAS HUMBLED AND KIND OF TAKEN BACK.

I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE ONE LITTLE SMALL PART, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY GREAT TEACHERS HERE.

THERE'S SO MANY GREAT STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS.

BUT JUST VERY, VERY HUMBLED AND GLAD THAT THE STUDENTS AND I ARE MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE AT SPRING GROVE.

>> IT'S SO NEAT THAT MR. RICHARDS AND HIS STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.

WELL OUR FINAL AWARD TONIGHT TAKES US TO LEBANON COUNTY, WHERE YOU'LL MEET A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WHO IS ALWAYS CHEERING HER STUDENTS ON.

MEET SAMANTHA FINK.

♪♪ >> HI, I'M SAMANTHA FINK.

I CURRENTLY TEACH KINDERGARTEN AT THE CORNWALL-LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> 95, 100!

AWESOME JOB, FRIENDS.

AWESOME.

>> I ALWAYS KNEW I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER.

I HAD TEACHERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT I JUST LOVED.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A TEACHER THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR MY STUDENTS LIKE THE ONES I HAD IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

KINDERGARTENERS ARE JUST FUN AND HAPPY TO BE IN CLASS.

SOMETIMES IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING, SO IT'S JUST FUN TO SEE HOW THEY LEARN AND GROW BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WHEN I COME IN IN THE MORNING, I WANT MY STUDENTS TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF MY CLASSROOM.

SO I MAKE SURE THAT I SAY GOOD MORNING TO EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT, SO THEY FEEL LIKE, OH, MS. FINK CALLED ON ME, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY.

I JUST WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE INCLUDED, LIKE THEY'RE PART OF THE CLASSROOM.

>> IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU TODAY.

I HOPE YOU ARE WELL.

>> I TRY REALLY HARD TO HAVE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY STUDENTS.

SO I'M ALWAYS SAYING, "GOOD JOB!

AWESOME JOB!

KEEP GOING!

YOU'RE DOING GREAT!"

YOU'LL ALSO SEE ME DOING A LOT OF CHEERS IN THE MORNING.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A SUPER DAY.

IT IS GOING TO BE A SUPER DAY!

THAT IS RIGHT.

>> WE ARE STILL COMPLETELY VIRTUAL.

WE STARTED THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR VIRTUALLY AND WE'RE GONNA END THE YEAR VIRTUALLY.

I DEFINITELY WAS NERVOUS WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT.

♪ DAYS OF THE WEEK ♪ [ SNAPPING FINGERS ] ♪ DAYS OF THE WEEK ♪ [ SNAPPING FINGERS ] >> THIS IS COMPLETELY NEW.

A NEW WAY TO TEACH, AND WE WEREN'T TAUGHT TO DO THIS, BECAUSE IT WASN'T DONE BEFORE.

BUT USUALLY WHEN I'M NERVOUS LIKE THIS I'LL DO RESEARCH AND SEE IF I CAN FIND ANYTHING TO HELP ME WITH THAT.

I'LL ASK COLLEAGUES LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO?

IT DEFINITELY WAS A CHALLENGE.

THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS, JUST PREPARING WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THE DAY AND HAVING EXTRA THINGS COMPLETED.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK.

DEFINITELY MORE THAN I'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

BUT I JUST KNOW THAT I LOVE THIS JOB, SO I KNOW I'M GONNA DO IT.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD I WAS GETTING A TEACHER IMPACT AWARD I WAS SO EXCITED I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I WAS SHOCKED.

I TEARED UP A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I EVER WANT TO DO.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN MY STUDENTS' LIVES AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S CLEAR TO SEE THAT MS. FINK IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF HER STUDENTS.

WELL THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR AWARDS SHOW.

WE WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR INVITING US INTO YOUR SCHOOLS AND INTO YOUR CLASSROOMS VIRTUALLY.

ONE THING I WAS REALLY MOVED BY IN INTERVIEWING EACH OF THESE EDUCATORS IS THAT MOST OF THEM WERE INSPIRED TO TEACH BY A TEACHER THAT THEY ONCE HAD.

IT LEADS ME TO WONDER HOW MANY FUTURE TEACHERS THEY HAVE INSPIRED.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR 2021 TEACHER IMPACT AWARD RECIPIENTS AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE EDUCATORS FOR THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY.

I'M KEIRA McGUIRE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE 2021 TEACHER IMPACT AWARDS IS PROVIDED BY -- CAPITAL BLUE CROSS APPRECIATES THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES EDUCATORS FACE, AND APPLAUDS THEIR EFFORTS AND DEDICATION TO THEIR SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITIES.

CAPITAL BLUE CROSS RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANT ROLE EDUCATION HAS IN PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH, AND ARE PROUD TO BE THE HEALTH PLAN PARTNER OF CHOICE FOR MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INTERMEDIATE UNITS, AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS COVERING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS.

CAPITAL BLUE CROSS IS COMMITTED TO A SHARED MISSION OF IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

MORE AT CAPITALBLUECROSS.COM.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

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