Ms. Smith's BIG Surprise! ! !

Jim DeProfio, Janice Smith, Charles McAfee and Karin Orbin pose with Lowell Milken after the Milken Family Foundation National Awards Banquet held on June 28th at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

(David Driscoll, Henry Walsh, and Superintendent of Weymouth Public Schools, Robert West)
photo by Jarrod S.

On October 6, 1999, Massachusetts Department of Education Chairman David Driscoll was scheduled to address an eighth grade assembly at our school. I was sure I had figured out the reason for his visit. He was coming, I hoped, to announce that Weymouth Junior High had received the most improved scores on the MCAS tests given last spring. I was wrong!!!!!!!!!

He had come to announce that I had been selected as a Milken Family Foundation National Educator. Three other teachers received the award in Massachusetts. We, along with 170 other honored educators, will be traveling to California to attend a four day education conference and to receive our awards.

Here is the press release from the Mass Department of Education.

You can read the details about the assembly and the award on the Weymouth Junior High website.

Learn more about the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards .

Receiving this award has been the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. When the microphone was placed in my hand after the stunning announcement was made, I blurted out, "I'm going to Hollywood!!!!!" Then I continued to voice what I feel in my heart. "I lovemy job. I work with a wonderful group of dedicated people, and Weymouth Junior High is a great place to work!"

Teaching this age group is never dull. It's fun, exciting, challenging, frustrating, energy-draining, demanding, and rewarding. In short, it's the best job in the world!
(Well, that is except for all of the correcting!!!!!!!)

Updated: July 29, 2000 . . . . . . EMAIL

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