Mrs. Barbara Benglian of the humongous Upper Darby High School is Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year:
Mrs. Barbara Benglian was named 2006 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year at a ceremony in Harrisburg on September 27, 2005. Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, Acting Secretary of Education, announced Mrs. Benglian's selection at the conclusion of a ceremony honoring all twelve finalists in the state competition...Mrs. Barbara Benglian is a music teacher at Upper Darby High School in the Upper Darby School District, where she directs the Chorus, Concert Choir, and Encore Singers...Mrs. Benglian conducts her classes of over 100 students as if each were a formal rehearsal, and she treats her students as professionals, requiring them to notify her by phone if they will miss a class for any reason. Within this carefully maintained structure, musical talent blossoms and even insecure performers develop confidence to perform well on stage and in their everyday lives...
The power of Barbara Benglian’s teaching was the deciding factor in her principal Geoffrey Kramer’s decision to remain at Upper Darby High School. “She has done a phenomenal job. She has built a dynasty.” Her students learn not only music, but discipline and leadership. She describes her classroom structure simply: “Upperclass students mentor new students, and the culture of respectful learning and striving for excellence continues from year to year.”
Emphases all mine. Hmmm, I sense a theme here....
Posted by kswygert at October 3, 2005 01:46 PM