Bermuda Teacher Receives Distinguished Award
Ruth Hatsberger, the English teacher at Bermuda Institute, was presented with a national award on Sunday [June 10] at the Bermuda Institute on Middle Road in Southampton. Ms Hatsberger is among 10 teachers selected this spring by the Alumni Awards Foundation [AAF] to receive a 2012 Excellence in Teaching Award.
AAF is a foundation that supports Seventh-day Adventist schools in North America. The award includes a medallion and $2,000 gift sponsored by Andrews University.
Ms Hetsberger “is the kind of teacher that students respect, parents praise and colleagues admire,” said Lois Tucker, principal at Bermuda Institute.
Ms Hetsberger gets creative with her English, literary analysis and creative writing classes. She hosts tea parties for her elective classes and has her students read their creative writing pieces for an audience.
She arranges for her students to do a research paper with an oral defense in front of a panel of judges. Her students have also had their work published in books of student poetry.
“When you want something done well, ask Ruth,” Tucker said. Teachers at Bermuda Institute are required to stay late once a week, but Ms Hetsberger stays late every day offering extra tutorial time to students. She also stays connected with parents so that they can be active in their child’s learning.
Serving as Campus Ministries Chair, Ms Hetsberger organizes groups of students to lead out in local church services, make nursing home visits and collect Christmas gifts for children in orphanages. She also provides weekend activity options at the school like Saturday night “student cook offs.”
Ms Hetsberger got her students involved in creating ads and videos about the value of Adventists education. The videos have been viewed at local churches and on the Adventist cable channel.
Ms Hetsberger finds the greatest joy when students invite her into their world and allow her to take part in their spiritual growth. “My reward is being able to speak freely about Christ in the classroom, listen to my students share their spiritual enlightenments, then wake up and do it again,” Ms Hetsberger said. “I would do this for free!”
AAF annually selects 10 teachers from the Seventh-day Adventist school system across North America. The 10 finalists will be celebrated in upcoming weeks.
AAF is a nonprofit organization that has awarded grants to Seventh-day Adventist schools and teachers totaling more than $2 million. Since its establishment in 1995, the organization has recognized 106 exceptional teachers with an Excellence in Teaching Award.
Congrats to you on a job well done! Keep up the good work!
What a wonderful way to get young people interested in writing and reading! Congratulations!