Bonneville Elementary School Teacher Jennifer Michaels-Gesundheit was named Orange County’s 2011 Teacher of the Year at a ceremony held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort last night. She received many gifts which were donated including a three- day cruise for two and a one-year lease of a new vehicle.
Gesundheit has worked at Bonneville for five years. She is a resource teacher in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and has been the ESE team leader for three years. Her colleagues say she is inspiring to all students and teachers. Gesundheit creates learning strategies through songs, cheers, chants and acronyms that have proven successful school wide. Gesundheit was already an award-winning teacher before receiving the district’s 2011 Teacher of the Year award. She was also the Rookie Teacher of the Year for the Council for Exceptional Children of Orange County.
Her former principal, Dr. Kimberly Bias says, “She is a consummate professional making every decision in the best interest of kids. If a student is in need, she is always ready to provide her expertise. She is an advocate for all students and they love coming to her class. She creates an atmosphere that is safe, respectful and highly conducive to learning. All students want to succeed as a result of her positive encouragement to do so.”
Gesundheit will now go on to the 2011 Florida Department of Education/Macy’s Teacher of the Year event to be held in July 2010. To see Gesundheit in the classroom, click here.
