Jeffrey Spanier has been named Carlsbad Unified School District's 2008-09 Teacher of the Year.
Spanier teaches Advanced Placement English and teaches/coordinates the Advancement Via Individual Determination program at Carlsbad High School. He will vie for San Diego County Teacher of the Year recognition later this spring.
Spanier, a product of Carlsbad Unified schools, has taught at Carlsbad High since 1997. He has been involved in numerous programs that focus on maximizing student potential, including coaching the Academic League, providing support to colleagues as Freshman Team Leader and supporting and assessing beginning teachers.
Spanier's nomination form was submitted and signed by dozens of his Carlsbad High colleagues.
“Jeff's commitment to his kids reveals itself in the enthusiasm, creativity and rigor with which he approaches the curriculum,” the nomination form states. “Whether at lunch, before or after school, he maintains an open-door policy. One need only walk past his room at one of these times to witness Jeff working and interacting with students as a teacher, mentor and role model.”
Spanier's selection as Teacher of the Year caps a year of achievement for him. He was one of only 17 teachers countywide honored as a 2008 Golden Mouse Tech Hero by the Technology Training Foundation of America. Spanier received 10 refurbished computers that will enable his students to continue bridging the digital divide.
He also earned prestigious certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Achieving these advanced standards for accomplished teaching has been determined to have a strong impact on learning.
“The lesson I share with any teacher who will listen is: Don't treat your students equally. They are not equals. Treating them as equals disqualifies a lot of what we are trying to teach them and severely limits a teacher's ability to challenge students at the level they deserve to be challenged,” Spanier said.
“If a student is a high-level reader, a clever writer and has unique personal insights, why would I give him or her the same writing assignment as a student who is struggling to find meaning in text? I wouldn't. More importantly, I shouldn't. Am I treating these two students equally? No. Fairly? I believe so,” he added.
Spanier teaches Advanced Placement English and teaches/coordinates the Advancement Via Individual Determination program at Carlsbad High School. He will vie for San Diego County Teacher of the Year recognition later this spring.
Spanier, a product of Carlsbad Unified schools, has taught at Carlsbad High since 1997. He has been involved in numerous programs that focus on maximizing student potential, including coaching the Academic League, providing support to colleagues as Freshman Team Leader and supporting and assessing beginning teachers.
Spanier's nomination form was submitted and signed by dozens of his Carlsbad High colleagues.
“Jeff's commitment to his kids reveals itself in the enthusiasm, creativity and rigor with which he approaches the curriculum,” the nomination form states. “Whether at lunch, before or after school, he maintains an open-door policy. One need only walk past his room at one of these times to witness Jeff working and interacting with students as a teacher, mentor and role model.”
Spanier's selection as Teacher of the Year caps a year of achievement for him. He was one of only 17 teachers countywide honored as a 2008 Golden Mouse Tech Hero by the Technology Training Foundation of America. Spanier received 10 refurbished computers that will enable his students to continue bridging the digital divide.
He also earned prestigious certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Achieving these advanced standards for accomplished teaching has been determined to have a strong impact on learning.
“The lesson I share with any teacher who will listen is: Don't treat your students equally. They are not equals. Treating them as equals disqualifies a lot of what we are trying to teach them and severely limits a teacher's ability to challenge students at the level they deserve to be challenged,” Spanier said.
“If a student is a high-level reader, a clever writer and has unique personal insights, why would I give him or her the same writing assignment as a student who is struggling to find meaning in text? I wouldn't. More importantly, I shouldn't. Am I treating these two students equally? No. Fairly? I believe so,” he added.