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Tuesday November 4, 2008 Edition
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Addison Northwest Supervisory Union Salutes Its 2008 Teachers of the Year

VUHS 2008 Teacher of the Year Cookie Steponaitis
photo provided
VUHS 2008 Teacher of the Year Cookie Steponaitis
2008 Addison Central School Teacher of the Year Alison DiBaca
photo provided
2008 Addison Central School Teacher of the Year Alison DiBaca

Tuesday November 4, 2008

    Every year the University of Vermont offers school districts the opportunity to honor their teachers by selecting Teachers of the Year and in 2008 two teachers from the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union district that includes Addison, Vergennes, Ferriburgh and Panton were selected. They are Alison DaBica from Addison Elementary and Cookie Steponaitis from Vergennes Union High School. Both educators knew from an early age that they wanted to teach and credit other educators in their own lives for instilling in them the passion for teaching.

    “I knew I wanted to be a teacher early on, somewhere between the third and fourth grade,” remarked Alison. “There were three educators that made a real difference in my life - Donna Robert (Burlington High School), Beverly Broomhall (Christ the King), and Lillian Robinson (H.O. Wheeler School). Mrs. Robinson was my classroom teacher when I was in third and fourth grade. She was a ray of sunshine, with a smile that lit up the room.  She was smart and compassionate, helpful and kind.  She made you feel like you were special.  I knew that she believed in me. She encouraged me to read, and to write. She helped me to tap into my creative and artistic side. She was simply a magnificent and wonderful part of my past.” Alison, who joined the staff of Addison Elementary in 2001, was lauded not only for her passion in the classroom, but outside of school as well. Her nomination letter cited her creation of a homework group and her work with the PTO as proof of her ability to communicate with students putting their needs in the forefront of everything she does.

    When she was asked about how she encourages and motivates her students to be life long learners, Alison remarked, “First, I try to get them to see the value in encouraging, reaching, and motivating each other by modeling those traits in my own interactions with them. We put tremendous emphasis on being good people and helping each other out and once they realize the importance of these characteristics I find that it’s much easier to get through to them about any subject or lesson no matter how big or small. The BEST way of doing this is through communication. We go through the expectations for each lesson as a group ahead of time then I make sure to follow up with my students both as a group and individually. This combination of getting them to be encouraging and motivating along with open communication has been a major part of our success as a group.” Alison keeps her students busy both in and outside the classroom and loves the community environment that a small school offers.

     Teachers who run into their students outside of the academic setting are amused when the children are astonished to see them shopping, taking a walk, seeing a film or living life outside of school. Alison was happy to add in the interview some facts about herself that would surprise her students. She never could play a musical instrument but always wished she were in a band. She knew she was a teacher when she couldn’t fall asleep because she was thinking of her lessons and students, and when she finally did fall asleep, she dreamed of lessons and students. She really enjoys oil painting and admits “…that at the end of the school year she becomes really sappy and cries, which isn’t a pretty sight… tissues everywhere.”

    VUHS history teacher Cookie Steponaitis, (“Step”) joined the faculty in 1984, but began her career at VUHS as a student in 1973 and graduated in June, 1979. Intending to become a dancer, “…but realizing God and gravity had other plans,” she found herself motivated and passionate about learning because of the faculty present at the school.

    “There was energy in the place that was tangible the moment you walked into the building,” she remembered. “Teachers were involved with life and us as students at a level I have never experienced again since. They challenged and motivated you to a personal best that kept changing and multiplying. While many touched my life in the years at VUHS I credit Jon Yarnall, Pamela Taylor, Ann Sullivan, Cathy Spaulding, Wayne Ganson, Jay Rodgers and Evie Burke for my decision to teach.”

    After leaving VUHS and graduating from UVM, “Step” taught at Mount Abraham and in rural school districts in the southern part of the United States. Returning to Vermont, she joined the faculty and spent her first sixteen years as a history teacher in the middle school, before moving to high school level where she has been currently teaching for the last eight years. In addition to teaching Step has coached sports, dance teams, speech, history, and writing competitions to local, state and national levels. In recent years, she has taken on the role of Yearbook Advisor and founded the Otter Creek Basin Student History Club. When she was questioned about which role or hat she has enjoyed the most, “Step” quickly pointed out, “Any and all, for they all center on community and children. When I am involved with those two facets of life there can be no disappointment. People are my passion.”

     When asked to share some intriguing tidbits for her students, she chuckled and thought for a while before responding. “I guess it would shock them to know that I have been a maid, waitress, photographer, fundraiser, telemarketer, job counselor, writer, horse riding instructor, and a sales person. Over my career I have worked with people in as many possible ways as I can.” While “Step” shows no sign of changing that life plan, she has made public to her students and community that she plans to step down from VUHS in the coming year. Her youngest child Jacob will be graduating in 2010 and she is planning to move on to a new career venue, which is still in the development stages.

     “That will be a memorable year for my family,” she commented. “My oldest will graduate college with a Bachelor’s degree, my second will graduate college with an Associate’s degree, my youngest will graduate high school and I will graduate to an as yet undecided new position. I frequently tell my students that we are at a common point in our lives. They are deciding what they want to do when they grow up and so am I.”

    It is apparent that both of ANWSU’s Teachers of the Year are motivated and passionate about their students and their role as educators. Alison remarked when queried about her definition of a teacher, “To me, a teacher is believer.  I believe that all students can and will reach their potential if they have guidance from the right teachers. I believe in them, which allows them to believe in themselves.”  “Step”, paused for a moment, and after answering the question of a student in the room responded, “A teacher instigates, motivates, intrigues, stimulates and encourages you to go just beyond the known horizon and into the unknown.”

    The staff of the Valley Voice takes this opportunity to salute the accomplishments of both educators and to thank them for helping the next generation of Addison County to fulfill their potential and grow.

 


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