by thelewisaw1dev | Feb 22, 2017 | Excellence in Teaching, News
In January the Lewis Award Committee announced the Finalists for the 2016-2017 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. For more information about each Finalist, you may
read the announcement here.
The Committee will observe the Finalists in their classrooms during February. Each week one Finalist will be featured. This week meet…
Patti Wagner
St. Thomas More Catholic School, Chapel Hill
Second Grade
The pictures show Mrs. Wagner’s class during Math and Centers. Centers allow the students to work on a variety of subjects in small group settings.
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by thelewisaw1dev | Jan 19, 2017 | Excellence in Teaching, News
The Lewis Award Committee is pleased to announce the following as Finalists for the 2016–2017 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching:
- Mark DeLaRosa, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh
- Carolyn Moser, The Franciscan School, Raleigh
- Patti Wagner, St. Thomas More Catholic School, Chapel Hill
The selection of this year’s Recipient will follow onsite classroom visitations and interviews by the Committee during the month of February. Congratulations to the Finalists!
Mark DeLaRosa has taught in the Diocese for 14 years and Theology at Cardinal Gibbons High School for the past 11 years. He is a certified Master Catechist in the Diocese of Raleigh. In the classroom Mr. DeLaRosa believes the best way to teach about faith is in community. He strives to create a community environment where students can “experience the Lord, the Church, each other and themselves”.
Among his many involvements Mr. DeLaRosa is a Holocaust Educator Network Facilitator Fellow, Faculty Mentor, Volunteer for Special Olympics, and Presenter for Adult Scripture Courses at Our Lady of Lourdes.
Carolyn Moser, with 41 years of teaching experience, has taught Eighth Grade Science at the Franciscan School for the past 11 years. Ms. Moser describes teaching “as a lifelong journey. Effective teachers must be passionate and continue to grow and develop. Caring deeply about the children I teach and wanting to guide them to new levels of success drives me to continue to grow professionally, spiritually and personally as a teacher”.
Ms. Moser is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent Science, a Kenan Fellow at NCSU and received a Fulbright Fellowship to Japan. Multiple years she was a session presenter both at the NC Science Teacher Conference and the National Middle School Conference.
Patti Wagner, with 29 years of teaching experience, has taught Second Grade at St. Thomas More Catholic School for the past 10 years. Ms. Wagner focuses on differentiated learning in her classroom. She “believes that integrating all subjects easily lends itself to differentiated lessons, which allows every child to succeed. It is my goal to make every child feel special and valued in my eyes and in God’s love.”
Ms. Wagner’s activities include: Coordinates middle school service projects; Organizer for ‘Walk for Africa’ to raise funds for hunger relief; Presenter at the annual Diocesan Schools Conference; Founder and driver for ‘Appalachian Shoebox Christmas’ that provides gifts for needy children in Appalachia; member of School Advisory Board.
by thelewisaw1dev | Feb 1, 2016 | Interesting Tidbits, News
As we look forward to the 25th Anniversary of the Award in 2016-2017, each month the website will highlight past recipients.
Corazon Bilano
1999 Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Lifetime Achievement in Catholic Education
Then & Now:
Ms. Bilano was the first recipient of the Award for Lifetime Achievement. At the time she received the Award Ms. Bilano was teaching First Grade at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Raleigh. She is now retired from teaching and but continues to be very active in the Diocese through her volunteer work at Sacred Heart Cathedral. She is a member of the Hispanic Choir, as well as a member of the Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Ramón ministry which supports the “Preescolar Sagrado Corazón de Jesus” in San Ramón Nicaragua through education and providing meals for the children. The ministry also supports the church’s projects by raising funds and visiting the sister parish as often as they are able. When not volunteering Ms. Bilano enjoys travelling with friends and catching up on reading.
Ms. Bilano expressed that “the Lewis Award confirmed my belief that children all over the world are alike. Deep down inside they respond to love. Teaching the little ones both in the Philippines and here in the USA gave me much joy. Now with the children in Nicaragua whom Cathedral School is helping, it is always a pleasure to visit them and rejoice in their accomplishments. It is with gratitude that we have been instrumental in their spiritual and educational growth.”
She would like teachers striving for excellence to recognize that “love works wonders with children — give them love and everything else will follow.”
When asked about the most memorable experience in the classroom Ms. Bilano shared that “when I was teaching First Grade, most of the children did not know how to read. No words could express the feelings I get when I saw the eyes and faces of the little ones as they realized that they could read.”
“The Lewis Award is a great means to recognize and acknowledge the hard work teachers do. To teach in a Catholic School is a blessing and a privilege. Together the school and families work towards the same goal and, that is, guiding each child to grow in faith and become a valuable member of society.”
Amazing Teachers in the Diocese of Raleigh
Patti Wagner, Second Grade teacher at St. Thomas More Catholic School, Chapel Hill, was recognized in the Raleigh News and Observer for her commendable efforts to collect and deliver gifts to Appalachia.
“Every year I look forward to bringing the joy of Christmas to needy children living deep in the Appalachian Mountains. For the past 10 years I have organized “Appalachian Shoebox Christmas”; this is a hands-on, child-appropriate opportunity in which the children of St. Thomas More can share Christ with needy children by using a simple shoebox. The project has grown every year; we now take not only a shoebox filled with small gifts, but clothing, and food gift cards. After collecting these items, we drive to Dingess, W. Va. where every child receives a shoebox at a Christmas party given just for them. It is a great joy and pleasure to provide this experience for the STM children who give so generously to children in such great need.”
The complete article can be found at the following link:
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article10185611.html
Interesting Tidbit
Notable North Carolinians Who Received a Catholic School Education
Ralph Campbell was the first African American to be elected to a state wide office in North Carolina. He served three terms as state auditor and was praised for his integrity. He also was a member of the Raleigh City Council and served as the first African American member of the Council of State. Mr. Campbell attended St. Monica’s Catholic School in Raleigh during his formative years.
