Sparta High music teacher nominated for Disney Award

Sparta - Deborah Prudenti Gianuzzi, a music teacher at Sparta High School, is being recognized for her creativity and success in the classroom as a Disney Teacher Award nominee. Gianuzzi joins a select group of teachers from across the country who have been recognized by their communities. She is now submitting an application to be considered for the 2006 Disney Teacher of the Year Award. “It is an honor and privilege to share music with my students,” said Gianuzzi. “I can’t think of a better job or higher calling than the education of our young people.” Since 1989, the Disney awards have been presented to teachers who construct learning environments where students and teachers alike explore, imagine and engage in a variety of stimulating ideas and experiences. Specifically, the program honors those teachers whose approaches exemplify creativity in teaching and who inspire a joy of learning in their students. “Debbie Gianuzzi is one of those people whose enthusiasm for life and all its adventures is infectious,” said Dr. J. THomas Morton, Sparta schools’ superintendent. “What a great trait for a teacher to have! Everyone follows where she leads... students, staff and parents. She has an incredible ability to give and keep giving, and we are all the lucky recipients of the generosity and her outgoing personality.” In addition to letters of recommendation, Gianuzzi will submit an application that includes several professional reflection essays describing her classroom and approach to teaching, the impact of high-stakes testing, how she approaches collaboration in her school and career, and an event that shaped her as a teacher. A committee composed of education experts from around the country will then review the nominee applications and select the 2006 honorees. The honorees will be announced in late spring and celebrated at an awards gala in July, when four will be selected as “Outstanding Teachers” and one will be named “Teacher of the Year.” The honorees will each receive $10,000, a $5,000 grant for their schools and a six-day professional development institute with their principals at the Walt Disney World Resort. At the institute, teachers will share ideas to refine their innovative teaching approaches and learn how to engage other teachers to build an effective collaborative teaching culture at their schools.