Teacher of the Year
2009 Worcester County Teacher of the Year:
Alison Giska
Snow Hill Middle School, Grade 7 Integrated Language Arts Teacher
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Graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Alison Giska earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education. She holds a Master of Arts in Post-Secondary Education from Salisbury University and is currently pursuing National Board Certification.
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Giska believes in treating her students as capable individuals, holding the highest expectations for every student, and creating a lively, hands-on classroom environment where students are encouraged to take risks. She frequently integrates the arts into her instruction to promote a deep appreciation for the power 
of language, as well as for the arts.*
According to Giska, one of the sources of her success is found in her commitment to self improvement. "In a profession that demands growth and change, my greatest contribution in education is my unstoppable dedication to self-improvement."
Giska's desire to improve and constantly grow has earned the respect of her colleagues and administrators. Giska holds several positions of leadership including academic team leader; PDS mentor teacher; Advanced Placement Vertical Team member for Grades 6 - 12 English Curriculum; PDS presenter at the national, regional, and local levels; and a student mentor for the Great Expectations Mentoring Program.
Keeping hope alive in the classroom is a message that Giska wishes to share with teachers throughout the county and state. "A teacher's body language and conviction have the power to convince an apprehensive young audience that they can be successful and they can accomplish anything," Giska explained.
Alison Giska will continue to the state level where she will compete with 23 other candidates representing their Maryland school district for the title of the 2010 Maryland Teacher of the Year.
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2009 School-Level Teachers of the Year:
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Susan Baker.................................................Berlin Intermediate School
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Kristina Belcher...........................................Stephen Decatur High School
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Pauline Brann...............................................Pocomoke Middle School
Aaron Dale.....................................................Showell Elementary School
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Alison Giska..................................................Snow Hill Middle School
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Julie Hickman...............................................Pocomoke Elementary School
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Todd Lampman...........................................Snow Hill High School
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Allison Lucas...............................................Cedar Chapel Special School
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Clara Outten.................................................Snow Hill Elementary School
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Shelley Phillips............................................Stephen Decatur Middle School
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Windy Phillips..............................................Ocean City Elementary School
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Rick Stephens.............................................Worcester Technical High School
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Thomas Ward...............................................Pocomoke High School
Annette Waters-Carrigan...........................Buckingham Elementary School
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