As we close out the year, we wanted to take this opportunity to recognize teachers who went the extra mile this school year to hone their craft of teaching. Those of you familiar with baseball analogies know how rare it is to accomplish a grand slam (a home run hit when the bases are loaded) or a triple play (three outs achieved by the defense on a single play). The award recipients listed below also accomplished something rare and extraordinary! 

They each made a significant commitment to improving their content knowledge, exchanging ideas on implementing specific resources and sharing best practices. Grand Slam teachers participated in four types of NGPF PD activities (since June of 2019): FinCamp, FinCamp+, Virtual PD (3 sessions or more) and Virtual FinCamp. Triple Play teachers took part in three of the four NGPF PD activities. What made these award winners stand out was their leadership role in modeling what it means to be a collaborative partner during these interactive sessions. In short, they make the community better by finding ways to support others. 

Without further adieu, the envelopes please...

Grand Slam Award Recipients (Awarded $100 gift cards)

• Denice Callis from Texas City High School (TX)
• Carolyn Cooper, a Volunteer at multiple high schools (San Jose, CA)
• Cecilia Gray from Pottsville High School (AR) 
• Suzanne Hirsch from Hudson High School (OH)
• Trevor Kert from Cashmere High School (WA)
• James Meadows from Gretna High School (VA)
• Louise Ollano of El Cerrito High School (CA)
• Julius Prezelski from Mt. St. Joseph High School (MD) 
• Hope Smalley Jackson from Texas City High School (TX)
• Scott Snyder from West Babylon Senior High School (NY)
• Deborah Sonnichsen from Foothill High School (NV)
• Deb Wolken from Lincoln Northeast High School (NE)
• Teresa Zimmerman  from Raines High School (TX)

Triple Play Award Recipients (Awarded $50 gift cards)

• Will Aguero of Minnesota Transitions Charter School (MN)
• Sharonda Allen of East Orange Campus High School (NJ)
• Jennifer Brown of Pinkerton Academy (NH)
• Lori Capone of Enfield High School (CT)
• Joel Chrisler Sauk Prairie High School (WI)
• Sue Comparato of Swampscott High School (MA)
• Dama Cooper of Cole Camp High School (MO)
• Samantha Desmarais of Central Falls High School (RI)
• Sharon Duke of Central Heights High School (TX)
• Sarah Elwell of McKinley Technology HS (DC)
• Renee Figg of Lafayette County C-1 High School (MO)
• Michael Gardner of Churchland High School (VA)
• Kevin Gartman of Montezuma Community Schools (IA)
• Wayne Goulet of Randolph Technical Career Center (VT)
• Catherine Griffin of Algonquin Regional High School (MA)
• Sylvia Halliburton of Brinkley Public School District (AR)
• Tina Hodnett of Warren Central High School (MS)
• Holly Hay of Thomas Stone High School (MD)
• Susan Heitzman of Fond du Lac High School (WI)
• Kerri Herrild of De Pere High School (WI)
• Jodie Holmquist of Hinsdale Middle High School (NH)
• Diana Howard of McKinleyville High School (CA)
• Jason-Lamont Jackson Sr. of West Orange High School (NJ)
• Paula Johnson of Dearborn (MO)
• Jillian Honis of Leonardtown High School (MD)
• Kathleen Marshall of Tolland High School (CT)
• Cassandra Menhart of Carmichaels Area High School (PA)
• Soni Midha of East Side Community High School (NY)
• Mary Miller of USD 397 Centre School (KS)
• Sheila Miller of Newfound Regional High School (NH)
• Josh Moreau of Green Bay Southwest High School (WI)
• Angela Newton of Riverside USD 114 (KS)
• Melissa Nicholas of TCESC-Liberty Learning Center (OH)
• Gini Nichols of The Founders Academy (NH)
• Roberta Oliver of Desert View High School (AZ)
• Kari Olson of LeRoy-Ostrander School (MN)
• Reginald Pittman of Beverly High School (MA)
• Courtney Poquette of Winooski High School (VT)
• Katie Petrie of Clinton Senior High School (NY)
• Crystal Rediske of Bothell High School (WA)
• Mattie Ricker of Forrest City High School (AR)
• Victoria Rizzo of Walt Morey High School (OR)
• Laura Schoenike of Menomonee Falls High School (WI)
• Samantha Selikoff of Thomas Jefferson Middle School (NJ)
• Lois Stoll of Benjamin Logan High School (OH)
• Bridgid Thomas of Abington Heights High School (PA)
• Lynnette Thompson of Central High School (MD)
• Alison Thorn of Central Heights High School (TX)
• Yazu Tseng of Chaffey High School (CA)
• Tamika Whitt-Wright of Calera High School (AL)

Thank you for your passion for financial education and commitment to strengthen this awesome community of personal finance educators. You inspire us everyday and strengthen our resolve to reach for the ambitious goal of #Mission 2030: By 2030, all students will take a one semester personal finance course before graduating from high school. We look forward to continuing to serve you in the 2020!!!

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Please note that the Grand Slam and Triple Play Awards are a one-time award program and will not be repeated in the future (apologies but we like to mix things up and find different ways to recognize amazing teachers!). Learn more about NGPF's free online PD offerings and FinCamp offerings here. 

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

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