Published: May 09, 2008 11:49 am         

Teacher of the Year

Educator stresses teamwork, community

SHORT GAP, W.Va. - Mineral County Teacher of the Year Kelly Stanislawczyk believes in the value of teamwork and community involvement.

As the Frankfort Middle School teacher instructs her students in computer skills, keyboarding and researching, she strives to get them to work together, whether it's teaming up on learning the tasks at hand or working on projects out in the community.

"Teamwork is very important in the classroom and in the workplace," she said Thursday as she took a rare break in her computer-filled classroom.

"I do several team projects with my students, for example, creating a business and incorporating information into a flier, a budget and a chart, a PowerPoint and a Web page.

"Presenting student projects is valuable for them to gain confidence and communication skills," she said.

Those skills, mixed in with the computer and keyboarding skills, she feels "are essential in education today, as well as in their future occupations."

Believing in the importance of keeping her own training and skills up-to-date in order to provide the best education for her students, Stanislawczyk is committed to "providing a learning environment that is both exciting and rigorous."

She strives to maintain an atmosphere in her classroom that is "open to change and ideas."

"I am always willing to have students share their knowledge and ideas with myself and the class," she said.

"I get excited when a student comes to me and says that they remembered how to do a skill. I also enjoy when a student comes in for help with a project because they want to know how to do something."

Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile, she said.

They are also the moments that make Stanislawczyk "valuable, indispensable and unique," according to Principal Susan Ray.

"She definitely goes beyond the call of duty," she said of the six-year Frankfort Middle School teacher.

A native of Keyser, Stanislawczyk holds an associate degree in office technologies from Potomac State College, a bachelor's degree in business education from Frostburg State University and a master's degree in administration and supervision from FSU.

She began her teaching career in 1997 at the Allegany County Career Center. She also taught part time at Potomac State, Allegany College of Maryland, the Mineral County Technical Center and Bishop Walsh School.

"I've taught from the middle school level to the college level ... and each has its own challenges and rewards," she said.

As Mineral County's Teacher of the Year, she received a $1,000 grant and an engraved crystal vase from the Mineral County Board of Education.

She and the five runners-up were honored Thursday at the annual Teacher of the Year banquet sponsored by BB&T Bank of Keyser.

The runners-up this year were Kathleen Brown of Wiley Ford Primary; Anna Clay, Keyser Primary-Middle; Kenneth Cowgill, Frankfort High School; Darlene Frederick, Mineral County Alternative School; Stacey McClintock, Keyser Primary-Middle; and Mary Anne Morris, Fountain Primary.

Contact Liz Beavers at lizbeavers@yahoo.com.