Honoring Normajean Ross, Philadelphia School District's Teacher of the Year.

WHEREAS, Normajean Ross, a third-grade school teacher at Harrington Elementary School in West Philadelphia, was among 22 nominees for this year's Teacher of the Year Award, named in tribute to the late Ruth Wright Hayre, a legendary district educator. In addition to the award, Ms. Ross received a $2,500 stipend from Lincoln Investment Planning; and

WHEREAS, Educators at Harrington School nominated Normajean Ross for this award, citing her thematic lessons which incorporate the arts, various cultures and architecture; her mentoring of inexperienced teachers and her efforts to bring professionals into the classroom and to take her students into the community; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Ross has formed a partnership with local architects from the Hillier Group, who are helping her class study the creation and history of Laurel Hill, a Fairmount Park mansion. The Hillier Group also helped the class build models of the historic mansion; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Ross has taken her students to visit Laurel Hill and, also, the Little Souls Doll Company, another partner that has paid students to make felt accessory sacks with the student's name on them. Ms. Ross was pleasantly surprised when she discovered a Little Soul Doll with her student's name on its sack, in a shop in Cape May, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Ross is one of the founding members of "Harrington's Arts Empower," a team of teachers that incorporates the arts in the teaching process. The Teacher of the Year 2000 has taught at Harrington for 26 years, and has influenced students in the best way possible through "hands-on" experience; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby commend and congratulate Normajean Ross who has been awarded "Teacher of the Year" honors by the Philadelphia School District for her professional excellence She is a source of pride to Harrington Elementary School, and she is truly an inspiration to untold numbers of students.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be presented to Ms. Ross, evidencing the sincere congratulations and high commendation of this legislative body.

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