2012 Teachers of the Year
President Obama congratulates Angela Wilson as the 2012 DoDEA Teacher of the Year in the Oval Office.
Angela Wilson
Mediterranean District
7th Grade English Language Arts/Forensics
Vicenza Middle School
Vicenza, Italy
Angela Wilson is an English Language Arts and forensics teacher at Vicenza Middle School. She has 11 years of teaching experience and has taught in public schools in Utah and Illinois. Wilson has taught in DoDEA schools in Korea, Turkey, and Italy.
Wilson graduated as the Department Scholar in Education from Western Illinois University in 1997 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education. She received a Master of Education from Southern Utah University.
Wilson will represent DoDEA at the National Teacher of the Year celebration to be held in Washington, D.C. this spring.
Wilson's philosophy and practice of teaching focuses on "bringing learning alive." According to Wilson, her role in the classroom is to meet students at their levels, discover their interests and ignite their passion for learning through dynamic, creative, daily lessons.
Wilson and her husband, Chance, who is also a DoDEA educator, have four daughters; all of whom attend DoDEA schools. Wilson enjoys spending time with her children, on-line scrapbooking, traveling the world, coaching speech and debate, and family game nights.
Jo Brooks
Teacher of the Year for DoDEA Headquarters
AP Calculus AB and BC
Virtual High School
HUB location: Ft. Rucker Elementary School
Jo Brooks teaches AP Calculus AB and BC, C++ Programming and Algebra II with the DoDEA Virtual High School. Brooks, a DoDEA graduate of Kinnick High School in Yokohama, Japan, has been with the virtual school for 16 years.
In 1972, Brooks received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Montana College in Dillon, Mont. In 1986, she received her Masters of Science in Math Education from Troy State University in Troy, Ala.
Before teaching with DoDEA, Brooks taught mathematics and Spanish both overseas and stateside.
Brooks has served as the union FRS and local president for DoDEA's distance learning teachers for 13 years. She is also on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the Mathematics Association of America.
Brooks says that while it can be a challenge to teach from a distance, it is also very exciting to continually learn ways to enhance the learning experience for the students through the use of technology.
Brooks is looking forward to the expansion of the virtual school to make it available to more students, who want or need to take courses.
In her spare time, Brooks is active in the community and serves as treasurer for the Save Our Strays (SOS) Animal Shelter. She and her husband also own a cageless dog boarding business, Dog Days, in Enterprise, Ala.
Brooks and her husband have three children.
Tracey Fairfax
Teacher of the Year for South Carolina/Fort Stewart/DoDDS Cuba
3rd Grade, all subject areas
Kessler Elementary School
Fort Stewart, Georgia
As a veteran and Army wife, Tracey Fairfax feels a true connection to military families. She applies her understanding of the culture of the school and the community to create and maintain a positive focus and open line of communication that allows for a student-centered vision.
Fairfax began her DoDEA career as a second grade teacher at West Point Elementary School in West Point, NY. She teaches third grade at Patrick Kessler Elementary; located on Fort Stewart, Georgia.
In addition to being in touch with the needs of students and parents, she is always searching for ways to improve upon the learning experiences of students and readily implements strategies to enhance the learning environment.
Fairfax is originally from Bartow, FL. After serving in the U.S. Army, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fayetteville State University in North Carolina in 2001. Fairfax earned her Master of Science in Education from the University of South Carolina in 2005.
Recently, Fairfax earned her Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Capella University in Minn.
She and her husband, Lt. Col. Duane A. Fairfax, have a daughter and a son.
Julia Eckl Goodrich
Teacher of the Year for North Carolina District, DDESS
3rd Grade, all subject areas
Gordon Elementary School
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Julia Goodrich has 38 years of teaching experience; 22 years of those have been with DoDEA schools. Goodrich joined the staff of Gordon Elementary School in the fall of 2008, and in January 2009 she was one of the teachers who helped to open the school. Goodrich is a graduate of Florence State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. After finishing her undergrad, she earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of North Alabama. She went on to earn an Education Specialist degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Alabama.
A four-year overseas assignment from 1989-1993, with Upwood Elementary School on Royal Air Force (RAF) Upwood, United Kingdom, was Goodrich's first induction to DoDEA. From 1993-1996 Goodrich taught 1st and 3rd grade at Murray Elementary School. From 1996-2009 she taught 2nd grade at Devers Elementary School. Currently, Goodrich teaches 3rd grade at Gordon Elementary School. All three DDESS schools are located on Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Before joining DoDEA, Goodrich taught first grade with Oakland Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School, both with the Lauderdale County Schools in Alabama. Goodrich and her husband enjoy all levels of camping, from primitive backpacking to traveling the United States in their motorhome. They have three West Highland Terriers that are constant companions wherever they go.
Geary Schwartz
Teacher of the Year for Kentucky District, DDESS
9th-12th Grade Math/Algebra
Fort Campbell High School
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Geary Schwartz is an Algebra teacher for 9th-12th grade at Fort Campbell High School in Fort Campbell, Ky. Schwartz also served as Algebra Coach for three years during the DoDEA Mathematics Initiative for Fort Campbell. He also served on the DoDEA Assessment Task Force.
Schwartz began his career with DoDEA in August of 1982 and was stationed in Bitburg, Germany. At Bitburg High School, he primarily taught mathematics, initiated the Lab classes, and coached football, basketball, soccer, cross country and track and field during his time there. Schwartz also served as a Continuous School Instruction (CSI) team member and as CSI chairperson.
In 1976, Schwartz received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a minor in mathematics from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn. In 1998, he received his master's degree in Education and Curriculum from National Louis University.
Prior to teaching with DoDEA, Schwartz taught Algebra 1 & 2 at Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut and was the initial head football coach at Stafford Springs High School from 1979-1980. Beginning in 1980, Schwartz taught mathematics and was assistant football and head track coach at Piper High School located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has teaching at Fort Campbell High School since 2003.
Schwartz felt a strong desire to become a teacher to "give back to the system" which had nurtured him both academically and athletically. Schwartz chose to teach mathematics because of his fascination with numbers, patterns, and their relationships.
Schwartz and his wife, Samantha, have two sons, Dylan and Kyle.
Tim Proskauer
Teacher of the Year for NY/VA/PR District, DDESS
6th Grade Social Studies
Antilles Middle School
Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico
"Tim Proskauer is a special teacher, one of those who was born to be an excellent teacher because he is caring, loving, patient, creative, energetic, and attentive not only with students but also with his colleagues and parents. Mr. Proskauer also demonstrates the highest level of professional commitment and competency in his work with students and colleagues," said Antilles Middle School Principal Nancy Maldonado.
Tim Proskauer is a sixth grade social studies teacher at Antilles Middle School. He has been with DODEA for 12 years, during which time he has taught special education, served as the Special Education team leader, coached the basketball and math teams, served on the school improvement team, and been the 6th grade team leader. He has a particular interest in using data to drive school improvement, and has been a leader in the PR district in improving the collection, analysis, and use of student assessment results. He was a member of the DoDEA Middle Level Task Group from 2009-2010 and is currently representing his district in the Teacher Leader Community through the Center for School Leadership.
Proskauer earned a BA in religious studies from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1992. From 1992-1994, Proskauer worked with emotionally and behaviorally disordered children at the Brandon Residential Treatment Center in Natick, Mass. He worked in the Boston Public Schools from 1994-1996, along the way earning a his M. Ed. in special education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., through the Pathways to Teaching Careers program. From 1996-1999 he worked in the Seattle School District teaching math, science, and special education at Meany and Madison Middle Schools. He came to Puerto Rico and DoDEA in 1999.
Outside of school Mr. Proskauer is active in the community as a Boy Scout leader and coach in the Army Youth Sports program. He also participates in adult softball and is a member of an adult swim team. He and his wife, Maria, have four sons ages 13, 13, 12 and 8. He is proud of the education they have received as students in the DoDEA schools!
Rebecca Hill
Teacher of the Year for Georgia/Alabama District, DDESS
Gifted Education
Maxwell Air Force Base Elementary/Middle School
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
Rebecca Hill has been with DoDEA for 14 years, and she currently teaches gifted education (K- 8th) at Maxwell AFB Elementary/Middle School. She is known as the robotics specialist and she enjoys challenging students through her robotics club and classes. Hill is passionate about providing 21st Century learning opportunities for students to apply STEM skills.
As a military wife, Hill also taught in Arizona, California, South Carolina, Florida and the Philippines at Clark AFB, in a variety of disciplines.
She majored in Early Childhood Education at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and graduated with her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. She earned her Master of Arts in Gifted Education from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala.
Hill and her husband, Kelly, have two daughters Kelsey and Ashley, and a son-in-law, Trey. Hill frequently is confused with her identical twin sister, Ginny, in the education field in South Carolina. When not at Maxwell, Hill can be found relaxing at the lake with a good book, quilting, or enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.
Ryan Goodfellow
Teacher of the Year for Bavaria District, DoDDS Europe
Algebra
Vilseck High School
Vilseck, Germany
Ryan Goodfellow has been a math and science teacher for the past twelve years. He completed his student teaching at Kaiserslautern High School in 1999, and after graduating from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics Education, immediately joined the DoDDS team.
Goodfellow started his career with DoDDS in the Azores as a middle school math and science teacher. While at Lajes Field he also found time to coach and sponsor trips to Hinterbrand Lodge. After five years in the Azores, Goodfellow and his family transferred to Yokosuka, Japan, where he taught physics and mathematics from 2005 to 2009.
During the summer of 2009 Goodfellow transferred to his current position at Vilseck High School. Goodfellow is currently teaching Algebra I in Vilseck where he is also co-chair for the continuous school improvement process. During his time at Vilseck, he was a Finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.
Goodfellow is currently earning his master's degree in educational leadership. He lives with his two children, Sierra and Kaito, and wife Erin, a fellow teacher at Netzaberg Elementary School.
Kim Mitchell
Teacher of the Year for Isles District, DoDDS Europe
Literacy Coach
AFNORTH School
Brunssum, The Netherlands
With nearly 15 years of teaching experience in the public school system, Kim Mitchell came to DoDEA in 2002 when she was selected as a 1st grade teacher in Gelnhausen, Germany. She then trained and served as a Reading Recovery Teacher and Language Arts Reading Specialist also at Gelnhausen Elementary School. Since then she has worked as an Instructional Systems Specialist for the Isles District and as a 5th grade teacher Allied Forces Northern Europe (AFNORTH) School in Brunssum, The Netherlands. She is currently a Literacy Coach at AFNORTH School.
Mitchell earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin, in 1986. She received her Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from Texas Woman's University in 2002. Mitchell also earned certifications in Reading Recovery, English as a Second Language and Early Childhood Education.
Mitchell designed and implemented a program for students in grades K-2nd grade who needed help with literacy. The program was data driven, differentiated, and incorporated all of the tenets of Assessment for Learning. The students were up to three years behind grade level. More than 95 percent of the students met or exceeded grade level benchmarks. Some gained as much as three years worth of achievement in a single year.
Elise Rosch
Teacher of the Year for Kaiserslautern District, DoDDS Europe
4th Grade
Spangdahlem Elementary School
Spangdahlem, Germany
Elise Rosch began her career with DoDEA at Ramstein Elementary School in 2006, where she taught a kindergarten German partial immersion program for three years. Rosch also served as a Sure Start teacher in Sasebo, Japan before transferring to Spangdahlem Elementary School as a third grade teacher. She presently teaches fourth grade. Rosch plays an active role in DoDEA schools, and currently serves as a member of Spangdahlem Elementary School's Continuous School Improvement Leadership Team, heading the data and assessment committee.
In addition to her leadership efforts, Rosch sponsors German and history after-school clubs to students.
Rosch encourages active participation of volunteers in her classroom and enjoys teaching German classes to children at the Spangdahlem Community Center. As a voting member of the American Educational Research Association, Rosch understands the importance of using current research and student data to drive her instruction.
Rosch received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in German from Kalamazoo College in Mich., in 2002. In 2003, Rosch received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She attended the University of Colorado and obtained her Master of Arts in German in 2007.
Rosch works hard to prepare all her students for success in the 21st century using collaboration between of educators, administrators, parents, and members of the community.
Casey Burkhardt
Teacher of the Year for Heidelberg District, DoDDS Europe
English Language Arts
Patch High School
Vaihingen,Germany
Casey Burkhardt teaches English Language Arts for 9th through 12th grades at Patch High School at Patch Barracks in Vaihingen, Germany. Prior to coming to Patch HS in 2009, she taught at Boeblingen Elementary/Middle School, Panzer Kaserne, in Böblingen, Germany.
She began her DoDEA teaching career at Yokosuka Middle School, Yokosuka Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan where she taught 8th Grade English, creative writing. She also taught English and pre-algebra at Page Middle School, in Page, AZ.
In 2003, Burkhardt earned a Masters of Education from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Prior to this, she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from Portland State, completed her Intermediate Exam at Universität Stuttgart, Germany, and an Associates Degree from Portland Community College.
Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Burkhardt is the Continuous School Improvement so-chairperson for Patch High School, serving in this capacity since 2010. She has participated in the ELA Task Group for revision of the Language Arts curriculum DoDEA-wide from 2008 to 2011. She has taken many opportunities to provide professional development opportunities for her colleagues and friends, twice presenting at Educators' Day in Japan and numerous times in-house on topics as wide as SmartBoards and Gaggle email in the classroom to Student-Led Conferences and Poetry Slam.
Ms. Burkhardt comes from a long line of educators and military members, with three grandparents, and both parents having served as teachers, professors and specialists, and a large number of family members who have served in the military. Service to one's country has always been a priority for her family.
She is married to David and the mother of Holden.
Jean Marie Tuquero
Teacher of the Year for Guam District, DoDDS Pacific
1st Grade
McCool Elementary/Middle School
Naval Base Guam
After graduating from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam High School, Dr. Jean Marie Tuquero earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Guam in 1992. Tuquero first teaching job was at Finegayan Elementary from 1993-1997. She has been with the DoDEA since 1997 at Commander William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School.
During her seventeen years of teaching, Tuquero has extended and enriched her teaching background. First with an Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in Computer Education from the University of Phoenix in 2005, and then with a Doctor of Philosophy in Postsecondary and Adult Education from Capella University in 2010. She strives to collaborate with colleagues at integrating cutting edge instructional technologies into their daily lessons, and is deeply engaged in developing strategies that use technology to impact student achievement through improved instructional practices.
Tuquero investigates hybrid classrooms and environmental literacy, making interconnections between Guam's environment, science curriculum, and technology. In addition, she would like to support the professional learning in her school through the development of professional learning communities.
Tuquero enjoys travelling, swimming, cooking, and working on home improvement projects with her husband, Mark, and son, Brandon.
Bernadette Schlueter
Teacher of the Year for Korea District, DoDDS Pacific
Assistant Principal
CDR William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School
Naval Base Guam
Dr. Bernadette Schlueter is currently the Assistant Principal of Commander William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School in Guam. Schlueter joined DoDEA in August of 2006 where she was assigned to Joan K. Mendel ES at Yokota Air Base, Japan, as a 5th grade teacher. From 2009 to the first quarter of SY 2011-2012, she was at Seoul American ES in Seoul, Korea as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher.
Schlueter graduated from the University of the Philippines Tacloban College with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She earned her Master of Business Administration from The Philippine Women's University, and her Master of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix. She received her Doctor of Education from The Philippine Women's University.
Schlueter began her education career as a college instructor, College Administrator and Vice President for Academic Affairs of JE Mondejar Computer College.
During her teaching career with DoDEA, Schlueter sponsored the Robotics Club, Running Club, Yearbook Club, Dolphin and Panda News Networks, Mendel Math Fairs, and the East Jam Talent Shows. She was a team leader, Continuous School Improvement committee chair and webmaster. Schlueter was elected as teacher representative and secretary of the School Advisory Councils of Seoul American Elementary School and Joan K. Mendel Elementary School. She also held many leadership positions in education. She is a past president of the international professional association of education Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) Tokyo Chapter 1530 in Tokyo, Japan and PDK Seoul Chapter 1423 in Seoul, Korea. Dr. Schlueter has also received recognition and honors for her work with DoDEA schools.
Schlueter is an avid runner. She has completed 35 marathons and ultra marathons to date. Her husband, Richard J. Schlueter II, is the principal of Seoul American High School in Seoul, Korea.
Marsha Post
Teacher of the Year for Okinawa District, DoDDS Pacific
Elementary Math Support Specialist
Zukeran Elementary School
Okinawa, Japan
Marsha Post is a K-5 grade Math Support teacher with Zukeran Elementary School. Post started teaching with DoDEA in 1981. She is a graduate of Kinnick High School, Japan, and has followed in her parents' DoDEA career path.
Post received her Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University to of Georgia in 1976 and her Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1984.
From 1981 to 1984 she taught kindergarten at Kadena Elementary School, in Kadena, then moved to Stearley Heights Elementary School to teach kindergarten and the Preschool Handicapped Program. Both schools are in Okinawa. From 1987 to 1988 Post taught kindergarten at Strullendorf Elementary School in Bavaria, Germany. From 1988 to 1989 Post taught in a Visually Impaired Infant and Toddler Intervention Program at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. She began teaching at Zukeran Elementary School in 1989 and taught 1st grade, reading recovery, and kindergarten. She then taught Multi-age 1st/2nd and 2nd/3rd.
Post is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, AEAO-Okinawa Chapter of Federal Education Association, and a previous member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Daniel Galvin
Teacher of the Year for Japan District, DoDDS Pacific
Algebra II, Discrete math, AP Statistics
Yokota High School
Yokota Air Base, Japan
Daniel Galvin teaches high school mathematics courses throughout the high school curriculum, primarily Algebra 2 and AP Statistics at Yokota High School, in Yokota Japan. Prior to working for DoDEA, Galvin taught mathematics, Algebra, Geometry and AP Calculus at public schools in New York.
He also served as an Academic Counselor at State University of New York College at Cortland, where he provided academic counseling and advising for students enrolled in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
Galvin earned his Bachelor of Art Degree in Mathematics in 1991 from the State University of New York College at Oswego, and a Masters of Art Degree in Mathematics from Binghamton University, in Binghamton, New York in 1993. He also studied at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York from 1997 -1999 pursuing a Doctorate Degree.