Duluth, GA (October 22, 2012) - During August and September, Georgia United Credit Union teamed up with Star94 Radio to ask parents and students to tell us about an outstanding teacher who made a difference in their lives. Thanks to every individual who took the time to honor a special teacher, by nominating them for our first annual “Teachers Make a Difference” Awards.
Any full-time teacher at an accredited public or private school in the state of Georgia was eligible, as long as they were still teaching. Applications were taken online through Georgia United and Star94’s websites and over 600 entries (of 500 words or less) were received by the September 21 deadline.
From all the amazing entries, one winner per week has been selected, for four weeks, each winning receiving a $500 cash prize and a $250 prize for their school. From these four winners, we will select one Grand Prize winner, who will receive a $2,000 scholarship towards his/her Continuing Education studies. Additionally, weekly winners were recognized with an award and lunch for the entire school staff at a recognition ceremony at their school.
We are excited to announce our fourth weekly winner is Ivan Zeitlin, 4th grade teacher at Shiloh Point School in Forsyth County. When asked what he loves about teaching, he said, “Connecting with the kids, their families, and community (building relationships). Watching the kids develop emotionally, socially, academically as well as chronologically (keeping in touch, I coach high school tennis too). Working with some of the best professionals in education in the best county in Georgia for the last 17 years!”
Here is an excerpt from student Julia Tang’s nomination:
“The Giver” - The class roared with laughter as Mr. Z cracked one of his hilarious jokes. He was a laugh, he was a great teacher, but he was more than that, he was the teacher that made a difference in my life. The name of my brilliant, life changing teacher is Mr. Zeitlin, but I prefer to call him Mr. Z. I happened to have him twice in my elementary school career - first in second grade, then in fourth grade. Now, you must be wondering what made my teacher so amazing and brilliant. Firstly in second grade, he made me actually enjoy and appreciate school. I didn’t exactly skip hand in hand with my first grade teacher so you couldn’t say she exactly stuck with me. But Mr. Z, he was the one that made learning fun. We used to do projects and play games to learn better. I enjoyed that so much better than sitting in class and taking notes from the thick, boring textbook. That’s what he helped me with in second grade, but he made the real difference in fourth grade. That was actually probably the hardest time in my life. I was diseased with Beta Thalessemia and I needed to get a bone marrow transplant. Some of my other teachers might have just given me a normal send-off and would’ve just been done with it, but not Mr. Z. There was a program called Monkey in my Chair at the hospital where a stuffed monkey would sit in my chair at school and would be there while I was in the hospital. I wanted to do it, and Mr. Z accepted it openly. Before I was at the hospital, he and my parents would discuss my education and how I would do. Many teachers would regard me as just a student that would come and go, but Mr. Z actually cared about me. The day before I left, I had a send-off party at school. Everyone gave me cards and I felt like I actually meant something to my teacher and classmates. I had to get a surgery the next day. Before my actual transplant I stayed at home for a while, and Mr. Z always popped in to give me lessons on what they were actually doing at school. Then I was moved to the hospital, but Mr. Z didn’t just leave me to go. He made calls to ask about me and when I came back from the hospital, he would come and visit me to make sure I was doing okay. He made me feel supported and made my time at the hospital better than it would have been. It made me feel appreciated that someone outside my family could come over to support and visit me. Mr. Z is the teacher that made the biggest difference in my life. It is impossible to explain in words how thankful I am to have had this extraordinary teacher for this time of my life.
Ivan’s Story: Mr. Z (as the kids call him) was born and raised in New York City, graduated with a BA from SUNY at Cortland, worked in television for 10 years (WXIA-TV locally), graduated with M. ECE from Georgia State University, 17th year teaching in Forsyth County (1st grade, 2nd grade, kindergarten, now 4th grade), 10th year coaching tennis at South Forsyth High School. Married to Katie, also a teacher at Shiloh Point, two adopted daughters (Scout & Harper, named after To Kill a Mockingbird character and author). Major interests, besides family and friends) are sports (tennis) and music.
Congratulations to Ivan Zeitlin at Shiloh Point School for being our fourth and final weekly award recipient. Next Monday, our grand prize winner will be announced from our four finalists so visit georgiaunitedcu.org or listen to Star94 Radio to learn which finalist will receive an additional $2,000 continuing education grant!
Thank you to your locally owned Domino's Pizza for providing lunch for all of the teachers at the winning schools!