CONTACT Debra Marlow

Director, Community Relations

748-1433

Nov. 28, 2007

For immediate release

Chesterfield teacher repeats as R.E.B. Award winner

A Chesterfield teacher has become one of only a handful of teachers to repeat as an R.E.B. Award winner in the 20-year history of the program. Ann Zyglocke, third-grade teacher at Grange Hall Elementary, won her first R.E.B. Award in 1988, the program’s inaugural year. She will use the $5,500 that accompanies her second award to volunteer with a sea turtle research group in Costa Rica .

This year’s R.E.B. winners were selected from 94 teachers in the Richmond region nominated by students, parents and colleagues, with 15 winners and 13 finalists receiving a total of $152,650. Five of those winners and one finalist work in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Here are Chesterfield ’s other 2007 R.E.B. winners:

·        Pamela Adkins, science teacher in the Center Based Gifted program at Manchester Middle, won $6,700 to experience the wildlife and environment of lava-built islands in Ecuador and study the Amazon rain forest.

·        Beth Craig, first-grade teacher at Ecoff Elementary, won $5,500 to visit New York City , Philadelphia and Plymouth , Mass. , and study their history and culture as they relate to first-grade social studies SOLs.

·        Terri Drewry, U.S. history teacher and chair of the Social Studies Department at Chesterfield Community High, won $12,000 to experience American cities that played key roles in history.

·        Sharon Hoffert, math teacher at James River High, won $12,000 to earn a master’s degree and English for Speakers of Other Languages endorsement and to experience the culture of Central America .

·        James Triesler, social studies teacher at Clover Hill High, won $10,000 to photograph World War II sites in Europe and interview people who lived through the war.

Also, Jill Nalbach, third-grade teacher at Ecoff Elementary, was an R.E.B. finalist and received a grant of $750.

The R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence program, a partnership between the Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation, recognizes excellence in public education by awarding cash grants to outstanding public school teachers from Chesterfield , Richmond , Henrico , Hanover and the Department of Correctional Education. Since 1988, the program has awarded $2 million to more than 500 public school instructors in recognition of their outstanding classroom performance. Recipients use the grants to travel, pursue postgraduate studies or attend professional workshops — all of which enhance their effectiveness in the classroom.

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