Naef Named AAFCS National Teacher of the Year for
P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. Program
(Alexandria, VA - May 7, 2007) — Kendra K. Naef, CFCS,
of Kimberly High School, Kimberly, Wis., has been
named American Association of Family & Consumer
Sciences (AAFCS) 2007 National Teacher of the Year
(T.O.Y.). The announcement came today from AAFCS Transitional
Executive Director Carolyn W. Jackson in commemoration
of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-12). Naef will
receive the prestigious AAFCS National Teacher of
the Year award at the AAFCS 98th Annual Conference
& Expo in Reno, Nevada, on June 21, 2007.
The AAFCS National T.O.Y. award, sponsored by AAFCS
and co-sponsored by publisher Glencoe/McGraw-Hill,
recognizes outstanding educational programs, methods,
techniques, and activities that give visibility to
family and consumer sciences (FCS) elementary and
secondary education and support “No Child Left Behind”
(NCLB). Each participating AAFCS affiliate selects
its Teacher of the Year and the winning affiliate
entries are submitted to AAFCS for the national competition.
From this group, the Top T.O.Y.s are selected, with
the most outstanding receiving the number one award.
The National T.O.Y. is selected based upon the following
criteria: integration of FCS with the core curriculum
(NCLB) and other disciplines; exemplary level of professional
commitment to FCS; goals and outcomes of the program;
sustainability of the program; creativity, innovation,
and cutting-edge techniques in the program; ability
to sustain funding and overcome obstacles or challenges;
positive influence on the lives of students; relevancy
and timely impact on the students, school, and community;
and increasing the visibility, recognition, and support
of the FCS profession within the community.
"Being recognized as the 2007 AAFCS National Teacher
of the Year is a great honor," said Naef. "I feel
privileged to work closely with students on a daily
basis and to continue my learning alongside them.
AAFCS has provided me with a strong understanding
of the philosophical foundation on which the profession
was founded, as well as opportunities for leadership,
professional development, and networking with FCS
colleagues. I look forward to advocating the importance
of family and consumer sciences programs across the
nation and supporting the need for high quality teachers
in all classrooms."
Through Naef's unique and innovative P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.
program, special education students are teamed with
regular education 11th and 12th graders to develop
positive social and academic relationships. The program
contributes to decreased stereotypes, positive peer
attitudes, advocacy for individuals with special needs,
and a more harmonious school culture.
Following an initial orientation, both special education
and regular education groups are brought together
for an introduction to the P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program
and for teacher-led activities that incorporate cooperation,
tolerance, patience, teamwork, and the identification
of similarities. Then students from both groups are
partnered and interview each other to construct visual
representations of themselves and discuss their interests.
Throughout the remainder of the semester, pairs of
regular education students develop, plan, and teach
weeklong units.
Teaching plans include peer-developed accommodations
and modifications for students with special learning
needs. Within each unit, students incorporate guest
speakers, field trips, and hands-on experiences. For
example, in a unit about transportation, students
may identify various forms of transportation, describe
the uses and non-uses of various forms of transportation,
obtain public transportation information (public bus
schedule, cab phone number and rates), participate
in a public bus trip in the community, and demonstrate
appropriate social skills and behaviors in the community.
At the conclusion of the unit, the peer teachers evaluate
themselves and assess whether or not students in the
program reached the stated unit objectives.
As part of the program, students also contribute to
all aspects of the P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. Sundae Shoppe
in-school business, designed to promote career and
technical skills and knowledge to special populations.
The Sundae Shoppe has not only led to financial self-sufficiency
of the P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program, but has also created
an avenue to expand the program’s goals outside of
the classroom into the larger school population. The
students operate the Sundae Shoppe each Wednesday
during the last portion of the class and into student
extended learning time. This business provides a prime
opportunity for the entire school population to observe
students with and without disabilities working together
successfully.
Since 1999, 261 students have participated in the
P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program. Although it is offered each
semester, the number of regular education students
who apply far exceeds the number of available enrollment
slots. Regular education students are now selected
for participation in the program based on written
statements and personal recommendations. Many regular
education students in the program become strong advocates
for their peers with special needs and go on to pursue
degrees relating to their P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. program
experiences, including education, special education,
social work, psychology, speech and language pathology,
occupational therapy, and health services.
"Ms. Naef has truly been an inspiration to me as I
pursue a major in communicative disorders at UW-Stevens
Point," said former P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. student Courtney
Fuller. "Academically, Ms. Naef has taught me a great
deal, but in addition to that, she has taught me the
ability to accept others who are different from myself,
to focus on the person and not the disability that
one may have."
A 10-year member of AAFCS, Ms. Naef has been teaching family and consumer sciences classes full-time at
Kimberly High School since 2000. In 2003, she took on the additional responsibility of family and consumer
sciences content area facilitator for the Kimberly Area School District. In addition to the AAFCS National T.O.Y.
award, Ms. Naef has been honored for her outstanding professional achievements with the AAFCS New Achievers
award in 2004 and the Milken Family Foundation National Educator award in 2005. She is an active member of
many education-related organizations, including the National Education Association and Family and Consumer Sciences Education Association, and is pursuing a Ph.D. in family and consumer sciences education from Iowa State University.
About AAFCS
Founded in 1909, AAFCS is the only not-for-profit
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing people
together to improve the lives of individuals, families,
and communities. AAFCS’ 8,000 members are elementary,
secondary, and post-secondary educators, researchers,
and administrators; Cooperative Extension educators;
and other professionals in business and industry,
not-for-profit organizations, and government. These
professionals develop, integrate, and provide life
skills and research in the areas of personal finance;
child care and parenting; conflict resolution; consumer
education; housing and environment; apparel and textiles;
and healthy eating and nutrition. With national headquarters
based in Alexandria, Va., AAFCS has 52 affiliates
located across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Interviews/Quotes
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Gwynn Mason at 703-706-4600 or gmason@aafcs.org.
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