Recipient: Alicia Underhill

School: St. Ambrose School

Number of Years Teaching: 22

Grade: grade 1

Inspiration/Motivation for being a teacher of excellence:

Being a life long learner herself is Alicia’s motivation to teach with excellence.  Because she values learning (Alicia is now learning her 4^th language), she tries to instill the joy of learning in her students.  She believes that if they value learning then they can be fully involved in life.  She particularly enjoys teaching grade 1 because there is such a huge change in the students…they begin in September knowing very little and then by after Christmas they are readers and writers.  This, along with the love and hugs she receives, keeps Alicia passionate about teaching.  With only one more year of teaching, Alicia continues to inspire students and as they told us “she is the best teacher because she shares and is giving, and she likes what we do.”

Alicia’s principal and several parents of students in Alicia’s class nominated Alicia for our award.  Her principal wrote:

In my twenty years as an educator, I have rarely met anyone so naturally gifted in working with young children, as is Alicia.  Her caring and compassion for children is readily evident to anyone who comes into contact with her.  Perhaps the greatest tribute that a teacher can receive is to know that they made a difference in the lives of their students.  Alicia has certainly done that and more.  I am constantly approached by former students of Alicia, some who are now parents at our school, who relate to me fond memories of being in her class.  Several former students have told me about times when Alicia was there for them during dark times in their lives. They always talk about her cheerful calm nature and understanding manner. It is this lasting impact that Alicia has had on generations of students that is the true measure of her stature as an educator.