Scroggs Elementary School teacher Shirley Pyon was named Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Teacher of the Year for 2007-08 at the district’s annual recognition banquet on May 31.
Pyon teaches third grade at Scroggs Elementary, where she’s been for seven years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology from UNC and is pursuing a master’s of education in mathematics education.
A member of Scroggs Elementary’s leadership committee and faculty council, Pyon also serves as third-grade chair and lead teacher. In addition, Pyon is Scroggs Elementary’s professional learning communities leader and equity team leader.
Pyon received the Horace Mann Educator Scholarship in 2006 and received the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship at UNC. She will represent the district as Teacher of the Year at the regional competition.
East Chapel Hill High School teacher Kathleen Laufer and Rashkis Elementary School teacher Christina Royster were named honor teachers.
Seawell Elementary School Assistant Principal Marny Ruben was named Assistant Principal of the Year.
Teaching Chairs were also named. These include:
• Greg Cain, Smith Middle – Elmo’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Foreign Service or ESL;
• Katherine Andrews, McDougle Elementary – Upper Elementary Chair for Excellence in Teaching Innovation;
• Patty Berge, McDougle Middle – GlaxoSmithKline Chair for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Science;
• Rebecca Hite, Chapel Hill High – Burton Stuart Chair for Promising New High School Teacher in Math or Science; and
• Anna Collins, Rashkis Elementary – Dean Smith New Teacher Award.
Teachers who received additional awards include:
• Rita Simpson, McDougle Middle, Smith Middle and Chapel Hill High – Valeria Daniels-Paddock Award;
• Alice Bryan, McDougle Middle – Katherine Penn Resource Teacher Award; and
• Kim Fearrington, Carrboro Elementary – Wilson and Edwin Caldwell Jr. Minority Student Achievement Award.
The district also honored 34 retirees and 21 teachers who earned their National Board Certifications this year.