Now this I think is a record. Enjoy these 11 sweet videos urging you to vote for Chris Johnson for QuickSchools Teacher of the Year. QuickSchools is a fully-online school management system.
First up is Chloe.
Next we have Emily.
And then JJ.
Now Jonathan.
And Lexi.
And Liorah.
And Mark & Sami.
And Matt.
Nice video from Miss V.
Mrs Cappadonia says Mr J is a “Swiss Army Knife!” 🙂
And the final video of this collection, Sydney.
Here’s a sweet video created by 3rd grader Hadiya Javed rooting for her Teacher Krystal Watson for QuickSchools Teacher of the Year. You can vote for Kyrstal here. QuickSchools is a fully-online school management system.
This is a guest post from Brandon Verbeek who was one of Mr Burns’ students. He wants you to vote for Franklin Burns for the QuickSchools Teacher of the Year 2012 award. QuickSchools is a fully-online school management system.
My name is Brando Verbeek and I would like to nominate Franklin L. Burns for teacher of the year for the many years of teaching service with special needs students. From another perspective I would like to nominate Mr. Burns for changing my life. I first met Mr. Burns at the young age of 9. I still remember the day vividly. I was at Hickman Park yelling and cursing at a teenager named Nick. Mr. Burns was nineteen at the time stopped playing basketball and walked over and asked if I was ok. I wasn’t happy because the teenager was picking on me. Mr. Burns ask the teenager to leave me alone and he walked me home and from that day Mr. Burns became my big brother. Mr. Burns left for college that September but he did not forget about me. He would come and visit me every Friday night. He would stop by my house and see how I was doing in school. He would wake up early Saturday morning to play football and basketball at my house. My whole family loved him. As I became older my sisters and I would stay the weekend with Mr. Burns and his wife. We would play video games, eat pizza, and go play basketball. When I was fourteen years old Mr. Burns invited me to his bachelor party and he made sure there wasn’t anything inappropriate during the party. He even let me record his wedding and I caught the garter belt when he threw it over his shoulder. When I was in high school, I was sent to an alternative school because of my choices. Mr. Burns would come and visit me at school and bring lunch from McDonalds or Burger King. I felt so special after he left because all my friends would tell me that I was lucky to have him as a brother. Today I strived to be like Mr. Burns. I’m twenty-five years old now and I have a little baby boy. I reminisce the fun times I had with Mr. Burns and I try my best to emulate him. I believe Mr. Burns is one of the greatest individuals that have ever lived on earth and he has changed my life. I hope he wins teacher of the year and I hope my heart felt story is the reason why he wins.
Sincerely,
Brandon Verbeek
This is a guest post from Tara Burns in support for Franklin Burns for QuickSchools Teacher of the Year award. QuickSchools.com is a fully-online school management system.
Saint Tower Academy was founded when the local school district Mr. Burns was teaching at had changed their instructional models for the self-contained students. Mr. Burns is a strong advocate for his students’ education and his expertise as the students’ teacher was being disregarded and students’ potentials were not being met. In addition to that, parents of Mr. Burns’ students’ were asking him to challenge their child more in the classroom. Being limited in what he could do in the self-contained classroom, Mr. Burns decided it was finally time to begin the school he was already working towards. The goal of the school is to give an education to students that need additional modification or accommodations to be successful in the classroom.
Mr. Burns has always been a very dedicated and passionate teacher even before he started teaching in the classroom. When I first met Mr. Burns, he was a coaching student in basketball as well as being a mentor to his neighbors’ son and daughters, always giving them the chance to work towards their goals and guiding them in the most positive way he knew. Mr. Burns has always had a lifetime goal to educate students and provide them with as much support and dedication he received as a special education student himself. Once he completed his degree at the University of Houston-Downtown, he began his plan of opening his own school. Since beginning teaching in 2003, he has taught a variety of students with disabilities and concerns. The one trait that made Mr. Burns stand out from other teachers I have seen, was his focus on what the students were able to do, their strengths, and build their education from there. When Mr. Burns finished his master’s degree in Special Education, he was very excited to open his own private school and have the opportunity to truly let his passion and dedication shine. He teaches students beginning at their strengths and learning modalities focusing on the positive and working out the negatives. I have seen students grow tremendously in not only their learning but in their behavior as well and taking responsibility for their actions and behaviors. He truly deserves to be teacher of the year!
This is a guest post by Brian Henris in support for Franklin Burns for the QuickSchools Teacher of the Year award. QuickSchools is a fully-online school management system.
“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt
This statement captures the essence of Franklin Burns, a man with the vision, passion and talent to start his own school, The Saint Tower Academy, dedicated to the betterment of special needs students. Drawing from his own personal experiences, Franklin was able to create an environment where children with special needs could receive the individual attention they need in which to achieve their maximum potential. This was not accomplished without an extreme measure of self- sacrifice as is generally required when a bold vision is set in motion. Through a diligent work ethic and by taking very little in the way of compensation, Franklin was able to establish his goal of creating his school dedicated to educating students who need additional modifications or accommodations to be successful in the classroom.
Seeing a need for change when his school district altered their placement for students in the self-contained classroom (life skills and adaptive behavior) in which Franklin worked forced him into action. One disturbing change was the use of paraprofessionals rather than certified special education teachers in the classroom. Additionally, emphasis on TAKS testing was having a negative effect on special needs students receiving proper classroom instruction and drawing access to needed resources. Rather than simply accepting a continued deterioration in the classroom environment, Franklin made a choice to strike out on his own. As a result, in conjunction with a local church, The Saint Thomas Academy was established.
Today, The Saint Tower Academy is the academic home to seven special needs students who now receive the attention and proper education geared toward producing success in life. In Franklin’s words, “I chose to change education by creating a school for students with special needs. Saint Tower Academy accesses the learning modalities of the student and creates an academic program for the student.” Franklin’s tireless dedication to the betterment of others is worthy not only of nomination, but of securing the title of “Teacher of the Year.” The spirit of the entrepreneur, as well as the relentless drive of Roosevelt, resides within the mind and heart of Franklin Burns.
Brian Henris
Here’s a beautiful story shared by Allysa Sarkar of how Franklin Burns helped her brother. Simply amazing! You can vote for Franklin here. QuickSchools is a fully-online school management system.
Dear Mr. Burns,
I first met Mr. Burns back in 2007. My brother started the year in Mr. Burns’s life skills classroom but reschedule into another life skills teacher classroom due to amount of students in his classroom. My brother’s education started in 2008 at the age of 10. At first it was difficult for Mr. Burns to educate my brother because he would refuse to do his work and he used foul language during class to avoid work. Mr. Burns was able to motivate my brother by listening to his interests and implementing those interests in the classroom. My brother’s behavior improved greatly after four months and he was able to recognize the alphabet letters. Since my brother wanted to learn more about the presidents of the United States, Mr. Burns used this to motivate my brother to read. During the beginning of the 2009 school year my brother was able to read basic texts and spell simple words. He was able to count money and spend money very well. He was able to count up to thousand dollars by a variety of different bills and coins. After my brother graduated from elementary my dad hired Mr. Burns to be my brother’s tutor during the summer. He greatly improved my brother’s math, reading, and writing. Then Mr. Burns started his own school and wanted my brother to come. The only problem was my family could not afford the tuition of the school. Mr. Burns told us not worry because he has it covered. My brother has been enrolled at Saint Tower Academy for the past 1 ½ years and I have seen so much improvement in all areas of academics. I’m very thankful that Mr. Burns loves my brother so much that he did not forget him after he graduated. We even named a spare room called the Mr. Burns room because he tutors my brother in that room during the summer. I believe Mr. Burns should be the teacher of the year because of his hard dedication and passion for education.
What a sweet poem Tashfiya Sadique, a 7th grader at Annoor Academy wrote in dedication to Teacher Krystal. QuickSchools is a fully-online school management system. You can vote for Krystal Watson here.
Here’s a special poem dedicated to you:
Tr. Krystal,
I’m happy that you’re my teacher;
I enjoy each lesson you teach.
As my role model you inspire me
To dream and to work and to reach.Read More »
Now this is really something! A collection of 6 videos created by the Saint Tower Academy folks in support of Mr Franklin Burns nomination for the QuickSchools Teacher of the Year 2012 award. You can vote for Frank here. QuickSchools.com is a fully-online school management system.
From Mr Imre Szenttornyay
