Behind every great student is a great teacher. These teachers make learning fun by thinking outside the box and creating classroom experiences that resonate with their students. They serve many roles in their schools, as spelling coaches, school bee coordinators and judges; more often than not, they are motivators who encourage their students to be the best they can be. In the “Teacher Feature,” we celebrate these educators and their commitment to their students' education.
This week's "Teacher Feature" recognizes Lorry Chwazik, the middle school librarian at Norwich Middle School in Norwich, New York. Norwich Middle School is a part of The Daily Star's spelling bee program.
Martha Ryan, a liaison between Norwich Middle School and the public, nominated Ms. Chwazik for the "Teacher Feature," citing her role as "instrumental in bringing back the spelling bee competition to her school after five years." As the head of the spelling bee efforts at her school, Ms. Chwasik also recognized a need for language enrichment services for those from her school and the surrounding area, so she decided to do something about it. As part of an exciting collaboration with Guernsey Memorial Library, students in her region can now benefit from after-school resources for language skill development. For instance, Ms. Chwazik's spelling bee club met every Thursday evening throughout the fall.
She became a strong advocate for the spelling bee program in 2007 when her daughter won the local and regional spelling bees, earning herself a spot at Bee Week in Washington, D.C. Ms. Chwazik believes the experience taught her daughter that "the combination of applying oneself and bravely accepting challenges can sometimes lead to astonishing and eye-opening wonders." This mindset stuck with her daughter during her high school and her college years, reaffirming for Ms. Chwazik the importance of the competition even a decade later. She believes the spelling bee brings out the best in both the participants and their parents: "The cheering and support shown to all the participants makes it a positive experience for each student no matter what level of expertise they obtain."
The Scripps National Spelling Bee would like to thank Ms. Chwazik for being such a dedicated advocate for the spelling bee program. Her collaboration with the local library system exemplifies her willingness to go the extra mile to secure unique, enriching educational opportunities for students of all ages in her local area.
If you would like to nominate an educator for an upcoming "Teacher Feature," fill out this brief survey about the teacher you wish to nominate.