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For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Contact:Jacqueline Reis 781-338-3115

Commissioner Announces 2016 Teacher of the Year

Joseph P. Manning School fifth grade teacher Audrey H. Jackson receives state's top educator award

Boston - Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester today announced Audrey H. Jackson of the Joseph P. Manning School in Boston as the 2016 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program is the state's top award for educators and annually recognizes excellence in teaching across the Commonwealth by selecting a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators statewide. State education officials used the occasion of Tuesday's National Teacher Day to make the announcement. Jackson, who lives in Boston, is the state's 54th recipient of this award and automatically becomes the state's candidate for the national Teacher of the Year Program. "Lieutenant Governor Polito and I send our heartfelt congratulations to Audrey Jackson and know Massachusetts will be well represented thanks to her outstanding work providing students in need with an extra level of care and attention," said Governor Charlie Baker. "Massachusetts is a national leader in education thanks to the Commonwealth's teachers like Audrey, who deserve recognition for their tireless efforts." "Audrey Jackson approaches her inclusion classroom as a community of learners who will benefit not only from her but from each other," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester. "We are fortunate to have excellent educators across the Commonwealth, and I am happy to recognize Ms. Jackson, who has a relentless focus on reaching all students and who has helped other educators improve how they teach students affected by trauma." The selection process for the 2015-16 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year began last fall with a call for nominations from administrators, teachers, students, parents and others. An initial review of each nominated teacher's written application led to the selection of semifinalists, who then submitted additional supporting material. Five finalists were selected and interviewed by an independent review panel of experts, including past recipients of the recognition. That panel then recommended one finalist to be named Massachusetts Teacher of the Year by Commissioner Chester. The other four Teacher of the Year finalists for this year's award were: Bridget Adam, a sixth grade math teacher at Boston Collegiate Charter School; David Kujawski, a sixth grade science teacher at Bird Middle School in Walpole; Jennifer Ormerod, a second grade teacher at Palmer River Elementary School in Rehoboth; and Brett Pangburn, a sixth grade English teacher at Excel Academy Charter School in Boston. Jackson will join other outstanding educators, including the Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year, the Milken Family Foundation Award winner for Massachusetts, the finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, and Teacher of the year finalists and semifinalists, for an awards ceremony at the State House on June 11, 2015. "The work of high-caliber teachers all too often goes unnoticed. I am thrilled to offer my congratulations to Ms. Jackson on this hard-earned recognition and to thank her for her service to the Commonwealth," said Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz. "We are lucky to have such a superb educator here in Boston and specifically at the Manning School in Jamaica Plain," said Representative Jeffrey Sánchez. "Audrey Jackson exemplifies what makes an excellent teacher - passion and dedication to knowledge, one's students, and the opportunities that arise with a good education. Exceptional teachers, in every community and neighborhood in the Commonwealth, are fundamental to empowering the next generation." "I congratulate Audrey Jackson and I am tremendously proud that a deserving Boston Public School teacher is being recognized as Teacher of the Year," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "Audrey represents the best of Boston Public Schools and serves as an example for educators across the Commonwealth." "Audrey Jackson is a model teacher, beloved by students and parents alike for the compassion and inspiration she brings to the classroom," said Boston Public Schools Interim Superintendent John McDonough. "She has taken her deep concern for students' well-being to an even higher level by creating a program that provides her fellow teachers a therapeutic toolbox to help students recover from the impacts of trauma. We are truly grateful to have her." "Audrey Jackson is an extraordinary teacher with a deep commitment to each and every one of her children," said Manning School Principal Ethan d'Ablemont Burnes. "She is a deeply intelligent, insightful, caring and committed teacher who instills a sense of belief in her students that they can achieve at higher levels. She builds in her classroom an intellectual community in which all students can participate, learn and thrive. I was once asked what is the key element in an effective teacher, and I thought of Audrey and her relentless drive to help all her students succeed." About Audrey H. Jackson Audrey H. Jackson grew up in Vermont. She holds a bachelor's degree from Williams College, a master's degree from the Boston Teacher Residency program, and a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she specialized in the impact of trauma on cognitive and emotional development, effective interventions for youth who had experienced trauma, and the application of educational neuroscience to daily teaching and learning. She developed a training program for teachers to help them understand the effects of trauma and to help them better serve students who have emotional and behavioral challenges, sometimes from exposure to trauma. Jackson believes "all children have the capacity to believe in themselves and thrive; sometimes they just need a little help seeing their own worth." ###



Last Updated: May 5, 2015



 
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