CareersNexTier Bank thanks all the teachers, teacher’s aides, and community members for participating in the 2024 Teaching Our Next Generation Essay Contest & Good Neighbor Award.
This year, 29 teachers submitted essays, and 12 teachers were nominated for the Good Neighbor Award, allowing for NexTier Bank to donate more than 1,100 school supplies to students throughout the communities we serve.
AND THE WINNERS ARE …
1st Place: Scott Newell, West Hills Intermediate School, Armstrong School District
His essay reads:
When thinking about who I would take my students back in time to meet, many of the obvious choices, Lincoln, Mandela, Washington, DaVinci, came to mind. However, the man who inspired me to enter coaching and teaching seemed a better choice. That man was the legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden. His accolades on the court are incomparable. However, his dedication to helping young men become successful and productive citizens exceeded his desire to win games. He created the ¨Pyramid of Success¨ system that demonstrated how to find success through building character.
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
This is a prime example of the life lessons that Coach Wooden imparted to his athletes. This man understood that being able to look at the man in the mirror meant far more than what others thought about you!
“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
Hard work was expected in Coach Woodenś program. Teaching his pupils that work ethic and accountability matter, were essential to their success in life. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked today and replaced with excuses and blame.
“Make each day your masterpiece.”
John Wooden inspired his pupils to live each day to the fullest and understand that every day is a blank canvas ready for their creative minds. Students’ creative and imaginative minds are often overlooked, but need to be cultivated. Coach Wooden understood that students need to be encouraged to follow their creative paths.
“Young people need models, not critics.”
In our digital society, anonymous criticism is rampant. It is even more common for people to avoid being watched for fear of ridicule. Coach Wooden stood as a beacon for his players to follow. In his era, African American players were not recruited. Coach Wooden believed in recruiting players on their merit and character. When a player was asked about the racial tension from the public toward their coach, he said, Ÿou don´t know our coach.
“He doesn’t see color.”
Coach Wooden was not a ¨do what I say, not as I do¨ man, he was a look at what I do and follow my example person. Every young person needs to see that today!
In hindsight, Lincoln was a better example of integrity. Mandela was one of the greatest models of doing what is right to ever live. DaVinci understood making every day a masterpiece was essential. And, Washington led his men to greater success by demonstrating and demanding work ethic from his men. However, my students could learn all of these principles from a mild mannered, leader of men, who understood that he was doing more than coaching a game, he was changing the lives of each person he came in contact with. That is what inspired me to become a teacher and a coach, and stands as my daily goal!
2nd Place: Sheryl Buffington, Preschool Palace, Butler
Her essay reads:
So often in life, when you ask a child who they look up to, it is a sports figure, Youtuber, or a movie star. We would like to go back to the beginning, to the people who helped shape our country, to the individuals who got us to where we are today. Today our preschool class is going to meet Abraham Lincoln, a simple man who cared about people of all color, economic status, and had high family values.
Our first stop is the state of Kentucky, where we will meet Lincoln in his one room log cabin. During his time here, he will explain his humble beginnings. At a young age, Lincoln lost his mother, a true tragedy, leading his father to soon remarry Sarah Bush Johnston. While living in his cabin, he learned how to farm the land with his father. He had very little formal education, but would read voraciously and had a great love of learning.
Our next tour stop is Louisiana, where Lincoln accompanied a flat boat down the Mississippi River. This is where Lincoln saw the severity and cruelty of slavery. This is a moment that would change the course of Lincoln’s life. He now, more than ever, understood the importance of equality.
The next tour stop we will visit is Springfield, Illinois, where Abraham Lincoln practiced law and met the love of his life, Mary Todd. He was a real presence in town, with his tall black stove pipe hat and his towering stature of 6’4”. He became a leader in national politics, most known for his anti-slavery platform which was very unpopular at the time.
The final stop of the tour is the White House in Washington D.C. This is where Lincoln and his family resided when he was elected President of the United States of America. He is best known for the Emancipation Proclamation, creating the Department of Agriculture, and instituting Thanksgiving.
Today we honor this incredible man by having his picture on the penny and $5 bill, as well as creating a memorial of him in our country’s capital, Washington D.C. To help remember the important details of this wonderful man, every year we teach our preschool class this song, sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle.
There was a man named Abraham,
We see him on our money.
His picture’s on a five dollar bill,
And also on our penny.
Honest Abe is what he’s called,
Honest, kind and true.
He was our 16th president,
He loved both me and you!
In conclusion, there are many life lessons we can learn from Abraham Lincoln. First, we don’t need a lot of money and material things to learn and grow as a person. Second, it’s important to be honest and kind to your fellow human beings and treat everyone with love and respect, no matter what their ethnicity or background is. Thank you for your time and consideration for the Teaching Our Next Generation Award.
3rd Place: Tracy Eddy, Dayton Elementary School, Armstrong School District
Her essay reads:
What an amazing opportunity to travel back in time with my lovely 3rd graders! Since we only have approximately 7 hours together each day, it would have to be a relatively quick trip. Furthermore, the fact that it would take us time to pack our backpacks, take a few restroom breaks, address hungry bellies, and answer a multitude of questions including “Are we there yet, where are we going?” would limit our travel time substantially.
According to a quick Google search, a historical figure is notable, lived in the past, and exerted a significant influence on other people’s lives. When I sift through the incredible women and men who have shaped history, I find it necessary to begin with some simple, yet crucial, lessons. As we buckle our seat belts and brace for take off on our zinging and buzzing time machine, my 3rd graders and I arrive in Mr. Roger’s neighborhood.
Now, this decision is risky. It’s not dangerous or scary. However, my students may not be impressed with a visit to the neighborhood that brought children of the 70s, 80s, and 90s so much joy. There isn’t anything flashy. No technology or endorsement of products. No social media posts from the show. Instead, we would explore simple characters portrayed through puppets. Characters who would show us how to speak respectfully to each other and to listen as others spoke. We would see them work collaboratively to solve problems or generate new ideas. We would hear songs that teach lessons and keep us singing the rest of the day.
A knock on the door signals visitors arriving. Mr. Rogers had a special talent for making everyone feel special and valuable. His love and kindness for all who entered his neighborhood whether it was in real life or from in front of the tv screen created a just plain feel good time. Something that many of us take for granted, and many students never receive.
Mr. Rogers was always working on some sort of project or creation. He would show how things worked or why something was possible. This would give my students the opportunity to ask questions in a neighborhood where the pace is slowed and patience is the norm. They could create and get messy. They could build and understand why something doesn’t work. They could learn to regulate emotions and celebrate simple accomplishments. They can engage with each other and have some fun! Now, if we can instill traits such as patience, determination, diligence, and creativity as 3rd graders, imagine how successful they can be as adults.
I know that learning the dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr. or the impact of Thomas Edison’s light bulb could encourage my students to be change makers or scientists. Visiting legendary artists could inspire my students to create beautiful masterpieces. Meeting Abe Lincoln could motivate my students to change our nation in amazing ways. In reality, all of these ambitions are possible by learning the basic messages of Mr. Rogers.
Good Neighbor Award: Christopher Eden, Ryan Gloyer Middle School, Seneca Valley School District
Nomination:
Mr. Eden helped to launch the first Girls’ Flag Football team at Seneca Valley this year. There are many coaches who give to their teams and to their communities, but I have never seen the level of involvement and dedication that Mr. Eden displayed. When close to 70 girls showed up for the first meeting, Mr. Eden, citing his belief that football saves lives, vowed to keep and coach each girl. He went above and beyond the requirements of the position, which in its first year had no budget, to send messages of encouragement to the girls on the team, put together outings at the Harmony Fire Department (where he is also a volunteer), and even dove into his own wallet to fund a banquet to celebrate the Seniors. In an effort to improve the team and in preparation for a (hopeful) sanctioning into the WPIAL, Mr. Eden volunteered dozens of hours in the summer holding optional practices for the girls. Through his endless dedication, there are many girls participating in a sport for the very first time, building their self-image and self-esteem, and seeing themselves as a part of a community. We will forever be grateful for the impact he has made on our daughter and the entire Seneca Valley School District.
