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The Lewis Award Committee is pleased to announce that Ms.Tina Isenbarger has been selected as the 2019-2020 Recipient of the Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. Ms. Isenbarger, who currently teaches Fifth Grade, is in her nineteenth year of teaching with the last ten years at St. Ann Catholic School.
Ms. Isenbarger feels that teachers striving for excellence in Catholic schools
“need an appreciation for the Catholic Faith. Their role as a Catholic School teacher is to continually prepare students in attaining the sacraments. Embrace the parish resources and support that are provided to teach in a Catholic School. [Teachers] need to enhance personal knowledge by attending Catechist classes so they can build a solid moral foundation for their students.”
Ms. Rene Corders, Principal of St. Ann’s, wrote in a letter of recommendation for the Award:
“In addition to her effectiveness in the classroom Ms. Isenbarger distinguishes herself by her involvement in the total school experience… and is involved in every school activity to some degree. She makes a difference on a daily basis.
Although Ms. Isenbarger is a member of another parish, her loyalty to the school’s mission and her understanding of the obvious connections between our church and school compel her to be visible and engaged in St. Ann parish activities.”
Ms. Isenbarger received a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and a Reading Validation from Ohio University, and a Masters degree in Special Education from Fayetteville State University.
The Lewis Award will be presented to Ms. Isenbarger at a special Liturgy on April 22 at St. Ann Catholic Church.
In January the Lewis Award Committee announced the Finalists for the 2019-2020 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. During the month of February, the Lewis Award Committee will observe the three Finalists in their classrooms and each of them will be featured on this website. If you would like to read more about these exceptional teachers click here.
Eighth Grade Religion & Middle School Science
In the first set of pictures, Mr. Ratte’s Fifth Grade class is in the Computer Lab researching climate. The second set of pictures are the Sixth Grade class is in the Science Lab studying and discussing the properties of waves.
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In January the Lewis Award Committee announced the Finalists for the 2019-2020 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. During the month of February, the Lewis Award Committee will observe the three Finalists in their classrooms and each of them will be featured on this website. If you would like to read more about these exceptional teachers click here.
Middle School Language Arts
Ms. Adkins’ 6th grade students, after finishing Carl Hiaasen literature circles, were working cooperatively on an eco research project that affected the characters in their books. Students read Hoot, Chomp, Flush or Scat. The final product will showcase the habitat, eco problem affecting their character, and the solutions.
Teams of students in Ms. Adkins’ class are engaged in reading All Summer in a Day, by Ray Bradbury. The teams then responded to the meaning of empathy and how it affected the characters in the book.
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In January the Lewis Award Committee announced the Finalists for the 2019-2020 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. During the month of February, the Lewis Award Committee will observe the three Finalists in their classrooms and each of them will be featured on this website. If you would like to read more about these exceptional teachers click here.
Fifth Grade Teacher
The pictures are of Ms. Isenbarger conducting a math lesson. The students are solving problems with addition and subtraction of fractions.
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The Recipient of the Award will be selected following February onsite classroom visitations and interviews by the Committee.
The following introduction to the Finalists includes their response when asked to describe their personal feelings and beliefs about teaching and a partial list of their involvement in school, church and community.
Nicole Adkins’s teaching career spans 17 years. She has taught at St. Raphael Catholic School in Raleigh for the past 10 as a Sixth and Seventh Grade Language Arts teacher. Ms. Adkins believes
“Teaching is my calling from God. These children have changed my life profoundly and I am better for it. Each challenge I face, is God showing me how to be better, stronger. I teach to get kids to realize that books can connect us, change us, bring out emotions we didn’t know we had, teach us empathy and love. It is about educating the whole child and making a connection to their lives.”
Ms. Adkins was a member of the Diocesan 2018 English, Language Arts Revision Committee; the Head Volleyball Coach since 2017 and the Assistant Coach prior to that; a New Teacher Mentor; initiated Time Management/Study Skills Seminars for parents and students; founded SRCS Teacher Book Club; assists with the Middle School Battle of the Books Team; a member of the Poetry Contest Committee; the Chair of the Sunshine Committee; a member of weekly Christian Book Club; and a Raleigh Volleyball Parent Volunteer.
Tina Isenbarger has 19 years of teaching experience, with the last 10 years at St. Ann Catholic School in Fayetteville. She currently teaches Fifth Grade. Ms. Isenbarger personally believes that
“all students can learn. Not all students apply themselves, move at a steady pace, or work on grade level, but they are all capable of learning. Finding the internal motivation and appropriate learning style within each child is my goal in aiding them to meet their academic goals. ‘If you can’t learn the way I teach, then I’ll teach the way you learn’.”
Ms. Isenbarger has been the Coordinator for St. Ann’s accreditation process since 1998; a member of the Parent Support Team; the Chair of the School Advisory Committee since 2014; the Rice Bowl Coordinator since 2017; the Talent Show Coordinator since 2017; the Chair of the Scholastic Book Fair since 2010; the Seminarian Pen-Pal Coordinator since 2015; the School Box Tops Coordinator; a volunteer at the Neighborhood Youth Center; and a Eucharistic Minister.
David Ratte has taught Eighth Grade Religion and Middle School Science for the past 4 years at Infant of Prague Catholic School. Mr. Ratte believes
“My best self is as a mentor and father figure; building a unique holy relationship is the key to unlocking learning potential. Many middle school children have an opaque image of themselves, family, and of their intended relationship with God. Some accept mediocrity whereas others humbly and earnestly pursue all that God intends for them. I want each child to realize their best self and embrace their identity as a Child of God.”
Mr. Ratte established and currently coaches the school’s Science Olympiad team, who won both regional and state awards the past two years; the Assistant Coach for the Girls’ Basketball Team; a member of the School Safety Committee that recently published a campus-wide Crisis Plan in coordination with local law enforcement; the past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 13220; and Sacristan, Lector, and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for Infant of Prague Parish.
In February, the Lewis Award website will feature each of the Finalist with pictures of their classrooms.
