What she thought was a joke ended with an Emily Howland Elementary School teacher earning the title of Educator of the Week.
The New York Lottery Educator of the Week program recognized kindergarten teacher Cathy Burns as one of 31 outstanding teachers in the Syracuse area.
Burns first thought it was a prank when an representative from the WSTM Channel 3 Syracuse television station called her to tell her the news.
However, the camera crew then showed up to film her teaching a lesson to her Southern Cayuga Central School District kindergarten class.
The segment already aired on WSTM, but another show in July will include all the honored educators.
She learned last fall that a former student, Melissa Bower, nominated Burns for the honor. Besides having Burns for a teacher in 1978, she sent three of her children to Burn's kindergarten room over the years.
Burns was honored twice, once with the thought that a former student still thought of her, and second with a dinner in Syracuse for the recipients Wednesday, she said.
Bower accompanied Burns to the award dinner.
“It's touching to think that someone would nominate me because I work with great people that are as deserving or more so,” she said.
Burns is no stranger to public praise. She earned the Apple for the Teacher Award in 2001. Former students again nominated her for the honor.
Her first teaching job at Blessed Trinity, now called St. Joseph in Auburn, first hooked her into the field. She then spent 29 years at the Southern Cayuga district.
Her passion for working with youngsters comes from constantly striving to make learning more exciting, build enthusiasm and instill a love for life-long learning, she said.
“I'm rewarded for something that I love to do,” she added.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
Burns first thought it was a prank when an representative from the WSTM Channel 3 Syracuse television station called her to tell her the news.
However, the camera crew then showed up to film her teaching a lesson to her Southern Cayuga Central School District kindergarten class.
The segment already aired on WSTM, but another show in July will include all the honored educators.
She learned last fall that a former student, Melissa Bower, nominated Burns for the honor. Besides having Burns for a teacher in 1978, she sent three of her children to Burn's kindergarten room over the years.
Burns was honored twice, once with the thought that a former student still thought of her, and second with a dinner in Syracuse for the recipients Wednesday, she said.
Bower accompanied Burns to the award dinner.
“It's touching to think that someone would nominate me because I work with great people that are as deserving or more so,” she said.
Burns is no stranger to public praise. She earned the Apple for the Teacher Award in 2001. Former students again nominated her for the honor.
Her first teaching job at Blessed Trinity, now called St. Joseph in Auburn, first hooked her into the field. She then spent 29 years at the Southern Cayuga district.
Her passion for working with youngsters comes from constantly striving to make learning more exciting, build enthusiasm and instill a love for life-long learning, she said.
“I'm rewarded for something that I love to do,” she added.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.