Full circle: Student becomes the A+ Teacher
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In 1992, Slippery Rock University freshman Kimberly Hodges nominated Mathews High School special education teacher Evelyn Wlodarski for an A+ Teacher award. Thirty-one years later, it's Hodges -- now known as Maplewood Elementary School teacher Kim Cleer -- who is an A+ Teacher.
"It's a little surreal," Cleer said. "She inspired me to be a teacher. This is full circle."
Cleer is one of 10 Trumbull County educators elected to the 2023 Class of A+ Teachers. The Tribune Chronicle began the awards program in 1991.
"Each of us can remember one or more teachers who shaped our lives. They are an integral part of our early education," Sue Shafer, Tribune Chronicle community events coordinator, said. "The A+ Teacher Award is one way recognize educators, letting them know the impact they have had, straight from the students themselves.
"This year's letters focused on teachers being dedicated, caring, having engaging lessons and encouraging their students to reach their full potential."
Cleer said that in her senior year in high school, she volunteered as an aide in Wlodarski's classroom.
"I saw how much respect her students had for her and how much respect she had for her students," Cleer wrote in 1992. "She is concerned, compassionate and very caring. … I often had to remind myself that they are students, not her children."
This year, Jen Fick, parent of Maplewood kindergartener Brantley Fick, nominated Cleer for the award: "She is a teacher that always goes above and beyond to put the students' needs above everything.
"She makes every child feel welcome into her class and strives to always keep parents up to date on everything going on at school. … She is a teacher because she loves inspiring, helping and shaping the minds of young students," Fick wrote.
A total 665 nominating letters were received for the awards, which are sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle, Trumbull County Retired Teachers Association, Trumbull County Educational Service Center and Outback Steakhouse, with support from Covelli Enterprises. The 10 winners will receive dinner at Outback Steakhouse and a personalized award.
The awards program began in 1991.
"Trumbull Retired Teachers Association is honored to be a part of this tradition," Sue Datish of TRTA said. "We all firmly believe that teachers are our unsung heroes and deserve to be honored."
Trumbull Retired Teachers has led the selection committee since 2018.
"As former colleagues, we are delighted to be a part of this great tradition. We often hear only about the negative in education. So it is important and a true privilege to showcase a fraction of the good that we know is happening. Most teachers are doing a spectacular job in trying times.
"This year, the committee read over 665 letters. Isn't that a great commentary on the excellence found in Trumbull County? Think about it -- 665 students and a few parents took the time to write about a teacher that made an impact on their life."
In nominating Warren G. Harding High School history teacher Stephanie Porterfield, Lillian Lowry wrote, "Mrs. Porterfield is truly so passionate about both her career as an educator and of the well-being of her students.
"Both my sophomore and junior years, I had the privilege of having Mrs. Porterfield as my honors and advanced placement American history teacher. During these years, I was struggling … and falling behind in school. Not only did Mrs. Porterfield help me to better understand the subject matter of her class and offer any help I could ever need, she helped me reach out to my other teachers about my struggles in their class … I truly would not be the student I am today without her."
Alaina Humphrey wrote of Mineral Ridge High School instructor Holly Fisher, "She connects math problems with real-life problems. She makes math fun. … Recently, things haven't been easy for me, but every time I come in, it's like an escape from reality, and I used to be really bad in math, but now I'm loving every minute of it."
Gracie Knight said of John F. Kennedy Junior High School math instructor Agostino Ragozzino, "Mr. Ragz has been my math teacher for three years. Not once do I think he lost hope for me or gave up on me. I wasn't the best student and I got tired of disappointing him.
"… At the start of ninth grade, he pulled me aside in the hallway… He told me that he was proud of me and that I was doing really well. That he had seen how much I grew and got better. That was the day I promised I would never disappoint him again."
A+ Teacher Marianne Donley of Newton Falls High School said she hopes the award is more than a popularity contest.
"It is nice to hear they like me," Donley said. "I certainly hope they learned as much from me as they like me."
That's answered by student Bayleigh Cumberledge, who wrote in her nomination of Donley for the award, "She does everything in her power to ensure every student the best possible learning experience. Through this year, she helped me grow as a person and even inspired me to like science. I can now say science is my new favorite subject."
The rest of the Class of 2023 are:
• Janet Pierko, Brookfield Middle School;
• Michelle Conley, Lakeview Elementary School, Cortland;
• Marla Dull, Blott / Guy Elementary School, Liberty;
• Summyre Colwell, Southington Middle School;
• Katie Wright, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Champion (Wright also won in 2016. She now enters the A+ Teacher Hall of Fame and is ineligible to win again).
bcole@tribtoday.com