Perk Valley teacher among finalists for PA Teacher of the Year

PERKIOMEN — Come early December, Evergreen Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Kevin Tomlinson knows where he will be for at least three days – in Hershey.

He won’t be there for an early holiday, but rather to join the 12 other Pennsylvania teachers who have been nominated as the Teacher of the Year.

For 16 years, Tomlinson has worked for the Perkiomen Valley School District following one year in Central Bucks. The Quakertown High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate was a little reluctant to notify the newspaper of his standing.

“I don’t want it to seem like I’m promoting myself or anything, but the people at the Department of Education ask us to contact the local media,” he said modestly.

Reassured it was no mark against his character to contact the local paper about his achievement, it was not long before he started talking excitedly about his work in the classroom working with that particular age group.

Taking pride of place in that discussion was talk about trout, or more specifically, a semester-long project in which Tomlinson’s students received trout eggs, and have been raising them in the classroom since January.

Paid for with a grant from Perkiomen Valley’s Education Foundation, Tomlinson works with gifted support teacher Kelly Voicheck to help the students care for the trout, maintain the tank, test the water and learn what one needs to know about trout.

In a few weeks, working with the local chapter of Trout Unlimited, who will teach more about testing the water, native plants how to tie flies and fish with them, and more, the students will release the young trout into Perkiomen Creek, Tomlinson explained

“I think fourth grade is great because they still like school, they start to ask very interesting questions, it’s great,” he said.

Some parents of those students think Tomlinson is great as well and nominated him for the Teacher of the Year award.

The purpose of the award “is to celebrate excellence in teaching, honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the young people of Pennsylvania,” according to the award website.

After being nominated, those selected in the first round must “be exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled pre-kindergarten through grade twelve teachers in any public school in Pennsylvania; Plan to continue in an active teaching status through the current school year; Incorporate effective and innovative instructional strategies, particularly elements of the Standards Aligned Systems (SAS); Inspire students of all backgrounds to learn; Have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues; Play an active role in the school and community; Be poised, articulate, and have good communication skills,” according to the site.

Those last qualifications are tested by writing the application and during an online interview, which is recorded for other judges to listen to. He was notified in April that he is among the 12 finalists.

“Great educators change the lives of their students each and every day and leave a lasting impact on them for life. The Commonwealth is proud to have strong, enthusiastic teachers, inspiring their students to reach infinite possibilities of success,” Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin said in a press release announcing the nominees.

“The process was really interesting and I’m really very humbled just to be nominated,” Tomlinson said.

If he wins, Tomlinson will represent Pennsylvania in various national, regional, and local functions culminating in the National Teacher of the Year ceremony at the White House.