Mrs. Evans has been named: Brick Township's Teacher of the Year!!
Imagine a school district where gifted children have a place to discover and learn more about their individual talents, a place where students have a chance to be creative and think critically, a place where our future leaders are being nurtured, supported, and challenged in order for them to soar to the heights that their abilities indicate. Mrs. Nancy Evans, is making this a reality in the Brick Township School District. She has not only been a teacher to the gifted children, but she has also been a teacher to our special education children and an advocate for all learners. I am honored to work along side such a remarkable educator.
Currently, there are approximately three million academically gifted and talented students in the United States; however many are not receiving the support and programs they need to reach their highest potential. Gifted and talented students need a challenging curriculum and a well-trained teacher who can inspire and motivate them, as well as challenge them to excel. Mrs. Evans’s program includes literature-based reading, problem-based curriculum, project work, she provides meaningful choices for her students, and students take control of their own learning. She teaches at both Drum Point and Osbornville schools. Since the gifted and talented students are part of a pull-out program, Mrs. Evans is diligent about sharing her expertise and knowledge with other teachers and students, and takes her program into other classrooms. By doing this, she models to other teachers how to differentiate their instruction so that all children can succeed.
As part of the Brick Township Public Schools on going effort to provide an enriching education for its students, Mrs. Evans was one of the leading committee members in creating a Curriculum Handbook for Enrichment Education. The handbook encompasses enrichment education for students in grades K-8 and meets and exceeds the standards set forth by the New Jersey Gifted and Talented Requirements and the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Mrs. Evans is greatly aware of the challenges facing students in the 21st century. Through the creation of this curriculum, Brick now has the tools to help foster the development of critical and creative thinkers in our global society.
I think it is so impressive that Mrs. Evans not only has made great strides in reaching out to provide information to the community, but she has also tried to create continuity in the Gifted and Talented program from kindergarten to middle school. She has the background knowledge to support and move forward our delivery of the school wide enrichment model. She attended the Confratute in 2009, which is presented by the most recognized leaders in gifted education. She knows the requirements for G&T in public schools, she consistently meets with teachers, administrators, and parents, and she holds workshops for teachers to show them how to enrich learning for all students. Congratulations to you, Mrs. Evans, on a job well done!