UW-Madison to honor mentors of student teachers

The School of Education will salute its “Partners in Education” during a banquet and awards ceremony Tuesday, March 23, at the Monona Terrace and Convention Center.

The annual event recognizes “cooperating teachers” who help to supervise and mentor student teachers from UW–Madison. The event also recognizes school administrators who play a pivotal role in helping to prepare the next generation of educators.

About 200 school personnel from Dane County and southern Wisconsin, along with their guests, are expected to attend the event.

Each year, more than 500 teachers open their classrooms to UW–Madison students and enable them to gain the real-world experience that is a requirement for teacher certification.

“These teachers demonstrate and provide advice on teaching in all of its complexity, in an environment that we could not reproduce on campus,” says Charles Read, dean of the School of Education. “Quite simply, we couldn’t prepare new teachers without them. We deeply appreciate their hard work on behalf of our students, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to thank them.”

The featured speaker for the evening will be Katie Schultz Stout, director of instruction and professional development for the Wisconsin Education Association Council.

Education Assistant Dean Jeff Hamm will present the Rockwell Awards, established by Ruth and Roland Rockwell of Madison to honor cooperating teachers who have shown an exceptional commitment to student teachers, and who have demonstrated superb teaching skills.

The 1999 recipients are: Claudia Blum, Orchard Ridge Elementary; Lona George, Thoreau Elementary; Ann Rouse, Kegonsa Elementary; and Ricardo Saenz, Jefferson Middle School.

Nine additional teachers will be recognized for their work as “Burmeister Scholars.” These teachers will help to instruct UW–Madison student teachers in reading and literacy education. Also during the program, the School of Education will present 20 Cooperating Personnel Awards to recognize years of service in working with UW–Madison students.

The Partners in Education event will begin at 5 p.m. with a social hour. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and the program will start at 7 p.m.