Island School officials announced yesterday they will offer a first-ever Excellence in Teaching Award, which comes with a $5,000 prize for the outstanding teacher. Tom and Bonnie McCloskey of McCloskey and Company donated the prize money. “All of us at
Island School officials announced yesterday they will offer a first-ever Excellence in Teaching Award, which comes with a $5,000 prize for the outstanding teacher.
Tom and Bonnie McCloskey of McCloskey and Company donated the prize money.
“All of us at Island School are grateful to the McCloskeys for their generosity and commitment to education,” said Robert Springer, head of Island School.
Tom McCloskey, chairman of McCloskey and Company, said, “Bonnie and I are especially interested in contributing to educational excellence on Kaua‘i, and we believe one of the best ways to do that is to reward great teachers.
“We are truly glad to be working with Island School to sponsor this Excellence in Teaching Award, and hope that it will serve to foster high quality learning locally.”
This month, members of the Island School ‘ohana, including students, instructors, administrators and parents, began the nomination process.
A Nominations Committee composed of representatives from Island School’s student government, parents, and Academic Affairs and Activities Committee will receive and review nominations, and select three to five teachers to become finalists for the award.
By March 19, the Nominations Committee will submit names of finalists to a Selection Committee, which will make the final selection.
The winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award will be announced by David Pratt, president of the school Board of Directors, at Island School’s graduation ceremonies on June 5.
“We have a list of nomination criteria, but in a nutshell we are looking for Island School instructors who are exceptional in their fields; have clear standards for learning and grading; use a variety of teaching techniques; provide motivation and feedback to students and colleagues; and are role models in the larger community,” said Springer.
Island School combines academic excellence with character building and experiences in the arts, he said.
Its mission is to prepare students to live productive, fulfilling lives as confident, responsible life-long learners and contributing members of society; to express fully the talents of faculty and administration through a challenging curriculum that prepares students for successful higher education; and to provide a safe, nurturing environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, initiative, and respect for self and others, said Springer.
McCloskey and Company’s mission is to develop projects and businesses responsibly, steward the land, and leave a positive, lasting legacy, based on Kaua‘i’s community needs and resource gaps.
McCloskey and Company encompasses several entities owned by Tom and Bonnie McCloskey and their family, including the Kealia Kai development and Northshore Nursery on Kaua‘i; and Cornerstone Holdings based in Aspen, Colo.
Through the McCloskey Family Charitable Foundation, McCloskey and Company funds a variety of projects aligned with the company mission and which address specific community concerns.
Tom and Bonnie McCloskey have a long-standing interest in education. He is a member of the advisory council of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Bonnie McCloskey is a trustee at both Sweet Briar College and The Aspen Institute.
