Dear Ace: From what I hear, we have some really good primary and secondary teachers in our town. What can you tell me about them?—Ed U. Kator
Dear Ed: It’s no coincidence that Charlottesville has turned out some pretty high-profile people—think of Rob Lowe or DMB or the kids of any of the celebrities who have made our town home in the last few decades (and yours truly, of course). We have some pretty great schools, and it’s not just the pricey private ones that offer a strong education: Charlottesville High School ranked in the top half of Newsweek’s recent list of the 1,000 best high schools in the nation. Albemarle and Western Albemarle high schools also made the list.
 Public school props: Newsweek magazine says Albemarle High School is one of the 1,000 best high schools in the nation. Western Albemarle also made the list, and CHS ranked in the top half. |
One educator in particular, however, has recently garnered national recognition for her excellence. The Milken Family Foundation selected Burnley-Moran Elementary School Principal Daphne Keiser as a 2006 recipient of one of its Milken National Educator Awards, which have been called the “Oscars of Teaching” by Teacher magazine. The awards are given annually to up to 100 educators from across the country. Ms. Keiser will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles this spring and will receive $25,000 to use however she sees fit. (If you’re reading this, Ms. Keiser, by Ace’s calculations, 25,000 bucks would buy quite a few nightly rounds of drinks at Miller’s for a certain local reporter—one who might be willing to give priority to columns about Burnley-Moran in exchange for such a generous offer. Holler at your boy.)
Milken Award nominations are made without nominees’ knowledge by a panel appointed by the education departments of each state. The panel evaluates educators based on criteria such as “exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school” and an “engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues and the community.”
So yes, Ed, we have some pretty decent educators in our town, and one of them has proven it nationally. Be proud. And sit up straight. And don’t think for a second that Ace doesn’t know you’re passing notes back there!
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