Local named a Teacher of the Year by Goddard

  • 2015-05-27
Goddard Systems, Inc. issued a press release earlier this month announcing its four choices for the ‘Teacher of the Year’ awards.

As the franchisor of The Goddard School, Goddard Systems, Inc. has for nine years celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week by selecting a few educators to receive the Teacher of Year honors. Each member of this year’s group developed and implemented a long-term assignment that benefited their classroom, school, or community.

Two of this year’s recipients were from Goddard Schools in Pennsylvania, one from Doylestown, and one from right here in Cranberry Township. These local franchisees will likely make use of these honors to promote, with the help of brochure printers, their individual schools.

Gerianne Holl teaches pre-kindergarten at the Cranberry Township Goddard School. She developed a program to instill patriotism in her students while teaching them empathy. Holl’s project provided opportunities for the children to send monthly care packages and cards to U.S. Navy enlisted personnel stationed in Bahrain. Additionally Holl’s students were able to participate in ‘Skyping Days’, when the children (encouraged to wear red, white, and blue) could have their questions answered by military members.

Pennsylvania’s other recipient is Doylestown kindergarten teacher Valerie Schmitzer of The Goddard School. Schmitzer, inspired by the charitable program Alex’s Lemonade Stand, created a Lemonade Stand for her students.