A health and physical education teacher at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School was recognized last week by Gov. Charlie Baker as one of the state’s “outstanding educators.”
Roxann Grover was one of the 2020 Teacher of the Year semifinalists honored at a State House ceremony June 20.
“Massachusetts teachers are instrumental in preparing the leaders of tomorrow for success after they leave the classroom,” said Baker. “We are very pleased to recognize these Massachusetts public school teachers today for the hard work, dedication and creativity they bring to their students every day.”
“It was such an honor to be nominated and then selected to the semifinalist round,” Grover said earlier this spring. “It validates the profession of health and physical education and the things we do as teachers everyday to make sure students understand that their well-being is the most important thing in their lives.”
Whittier’s Curriculum Coordinator Kelly Fay nominated Grover earlier this year, highlighting her dedication to students and wellness education for the last 40 years. She’s helped parents recognize the signs their children might be using drugs or alcohol through “Hidden in Plain Sight” events, organized walks for hunger to raise money for Project Bread and led food drives throughout the community to benefit Haverhill’s local food pantry, Our Neighbors Table.
Grover has also organized bullying prevention activities and walks to raise awareness for domestic violence, with proceeds going to a local women’s shelter. She helped organize a Whittier Relay for Life team, where over a two-day period, students came together to remember their loved ones who lost the battle to cancer, honor survivors and raise money to help the Haverhill community.
Officials presented awards to Takeru Nagayoshi, an English teacher at New Bedford High School, who was selected earlier this year as the 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, as well as finalists and semifinalists for the state award. The event also included the announcement that Michael Neagle of Pyne Arts Magnet School in Lowell is the 2019 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year. The Commonwealth’s most recent Milken Award winner and the Massachusetts finalists for the 2018 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching were also recognized.
“Our administration is proud to acknowledge these teachers for their hard work throughout another successful school year,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “Their dedication to the job and commitment to their students is crucial to ensuring Massachusetts continues to lead the country in education.”
The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching across the Commonwealth by selecting a teacher who exemplifies the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators statewide. The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year is automatically the state’s candidate for national teacher of the year. While remaining in the classroom. Nagayoshi will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession over the next year.
“We don’t always acknowledge how much preparation it takes to create lessons that reach every student,” Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley said. “All of us appreciate the planning, collaboration, and long hours that each of these teachers put in behind the scenes to make their classrooms engaging places where students can grow.”