Investing in Community Education

Elmbrook Educators Honored .... Who Was YOUR Most Influential Educator? NEW VIDEO!

Posted by Elmbrook Education Foundation on July 5, 2012

The Elmbrook Parent Leadership Council (EPLC) and the Elmbrook Education Foundation (EEF) are pleased to announce the recipients of 2012 Most Influential Educator Award. 

The inspiration for this new program originated with Elmbrook parent, Jane Peavler (pictured on right with David Frank, President of the Elmbrook Education Foundation).  The Elmbrook Education Foundation and the Elmbrook Parent Leadership Council (comprised of leaders from building level PTOs across the District) are delighted to sponsor the program in an effort to honor educators who have made an impact on Elmbrook students.  

Honorees were nominated by graduating seniors from both Brookfield Central and Brookfield East High Schools who have achieved academic excellence.  Students were asked to nominate a teacher who had a significant positive effect on their K-12 education.  

Click here to watch a short VIDEO MONTAGE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER PROGRAM.

The following educators were honored at special banquets (student nominator listed in parentheses).  Those in attendance are pictured later in this article.

• Mr. Matthew Aslakson – BCHS (Daniel Buck)
• Ms. Sandra Aslakson – BCHS (Derek Schmidt)
• Mr. Patrick Coffey – BEHS (Aditya Trivedi)
• Ms. Jill Cook – BCHS (Seungjoo Lee)
• Mr. Andy Farley – BEHS (Kathleen Browne)
• Mrs. Christine Fitzpatrick – Dousman El., Retired (Sorabh Singhai, BEHS)
• Mr. Denny Gillingham – BCHS (Mikayla Kelley)
• Mr. John Harder – BEHS (Max Hoffmann)
• Mr. Sean Harkins – BCHS (Abigail Rufer)
• Mrs. Emira Hot – BEHS (Gabrielle Termuehlen)
• Ms. Vickie Jakubowski – Hillside (Amir Alwin, BCHS)
• Mrs. Kelli Kwiatkowski – BEHS (Chang Ge)
• Mr. Jeff Ortman – BEHS (Christian Kreznar)
• Mr. Patrick Perez – BCHS (Hasan Nadeem)
• Mrs. Anne Peterson – BEHS (Chih-wei Wu)
• Ms. Alice Rast – BCHS (Samuel Patchett)
• Mr. Marc Stanke – BCHS (Kriya Patel)
• Mrs. Bonnie Sullivan – Tonawanda (Amanda Kalupa, BEHS)
• Ms. Louise Thompson – BCHS (Dee Luo)
• Mr. Brian Truka – Marquette University (Advik Shreekumar, BEHS)

Dr. Gibson opened each evening by saying "Elmbrook's vision is to 'work relentlessly to develop connections with every student to ensure success ... all of the teachers honored tonight are to be celebrated for doing just that!"   Here are a just a few excerpts from the awards banquet to capture the essence of how much influence educators have on our students lives and what kind of impact an honor like this can have on our educators. 

Students

• "Mr. Perez brings emotional vigor to his teaching and helping others. He has inspired me to pursue a job that I know will make me happy because I can see how teaching has brought so much happiness to his life" (Hassan) 
• "Mr. Gillingham had a way of sharing his intellect in a way that helped me find my own and further myself as a thinker" (Mikayla)
• "Mr. Harkins gave me the gift of seeking knowledge without inhibition and taught me that the best thing for me was not necessarily being the best"  (Abigail)
• "Mrs. Jakubowski's passion for her profession has inspired me to pursue my career goals with the same amount of passion. She inspired a love of reading for the first time in my life ... sorry mom" (Amir)
• "There is a difference between a dutiful teacher and an influential educator. The best education is found in the crucible of difficulty"  (Samuel)
• "Mr. Stanke awakened a passion for economics I may have never discovered if I had not had him for a teacher. Thank you for coming to school excited to teach each and every day"  (Kriya)
• "Mrs. Thompson provided me with unyielding support! There is value to being successful, but it means so much more to know that you have the ability to touch someone's life."  (Dee)
• "Even when Ms. Peterson isn't with us, we play with a joy of music she inspired in each of us!" (Chih-wei)
• "Ms. Sullivan's unwavering passion for her profession inspired me to focus on how my projects and future work will bring joy to me and my life ... Ms. Sullivan, your seemingly small impact on your students is greater than you'll ever know!" (Amanda)
• "Mr. Truka focused less on teaching and more on how to engage his students in learning". Advik
• "Ms. Kwiatkowski encouraged me to find opportunities that would help me grow personally into who I was designed to be rather than trying to craft a competitive college essay ... this changed my life!"  (Chang)
• "What I valued most was how Mr. Ortman treated me with respect and confidence in my abilities ... he set a new standard for my education and my personal growth which I will carry into the rest of my life".  (Christian)
• "If the impact of an educator is measured by their influence on the way one views his/her potential impact on the future, Mr. Coffey is the Most Influential Educator I have ever known" (Aditya)
• "I owe my academic enthusiasm to Mr. Farley and will carry that life lesson with me for the rest of my life"  (Kathleen)
• "Ms. Fitzpatrick's compassion and strong values have left a permanent imprint on all of her students". (Sorabh)

Educators

• "This was the greatest honor I have ever received in my teaching career" Vicki Jakubowski
• "I am so very proud of all you! You have made an impact on my life and have inspired me to be a better teacher!" Sandra Aslakson
• "I am humbled to be included among this group of distinguished colleagues" Patrick Perez
• "We go into teaching with the hope of making a difference but stay in the profession because of nights like tonight where we find we DO make a difference" Jill Cook
• "If you choose a career you love, you will never have to work a day in your life" Marc Stanke
• "The teachers I remembered most from High School were those that made me feel cared for ... that is the teacher I always wanted to be" Louise Thompson
• "It is an educator's dream come true to be here tonight!" Patrick Coffey
• "My mantra has been to try and empower others to change the world. I am blessed to play a role in the education of students who have the potential to do just that!"  Andy Farley
• "This is an honor I never even dreamed of. I am humbled to be honored by such an exceptional student!!"  Emira Hot
• "The students in this room have inspired ME! They renew my passion for learning!  Kelli Kwiatkowski
• "It is so humbling to be honored in this way .... I learn more from my students than they will ever learn from me!  Anne Peterson
• "We teach for the reward of seeing enthusiasm for learning in our students. These students are truly liberating! The impact these students have on us as educators is compelling!"  Brian Truka

Related links:

• www.facebook.com/EEFWI (for more pictures, etc.)
• VIDEO MONTAGE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHER PROGRAM
• Elmbrook Education Foundation - 'Elmbrook Staff Lead the Way' Honorarium Program
• Bil Zahn Honorary - Burleigh Student Scholarship Fund Appeal
• Hillside Honorary - Hillside Student Scholarship Fund Appeal

Brookfield Central Nominators and Honorees

1st row : Mikayla Kelley, Kriya Patel, Dee Luo, Abigail Rufer
2nd row: Vicki Jakubowski, Alice Rast, Louise Thompson, Jill Cook, Sandra Aslakson
3rd row: Daniel Buck, Amir Alwan, Derek Schmidt, Patrick Perez, Marc Stanke, Matthew Aslakson, Sean Harkins, Samuel Patchett, Seingjoo Lee, Hasan Nadeem
(Not pictured: Denny Gillingham)

Brookfield East Nominators and Honorees

from left:  Aditya Trivedi, Gabrielle Termuehlen, Christine Fitzpatrick, John Harder, Advik Shreekumar, Andy Farley, Chang Ge, Patrick Coffey, Christian Kreznar, Kathleen Browne, Brian Truka, Chih-wei Wu, Emira Hot, Sorabh Singhai, Anne Marie Peterson, Amanda Kalupa, Bonnie Sullivan, Kelli Kwiatkowski
(not pictured: Jeff Ortman, Max Hoffman)