Schools

Willard Middle School Teacher Finalist for Comcast SportsNet's 'All Star Teacher Award'

Willard Middle School librarian Jessica Lee is one of five finalists in the running to potentially win $20,000 for her school based on votes from the public.

Willard Middle School librarian Jessica Lee was recently nominated as one of five finalists for Comcast SportsNet's 2013 All-Star Teacher Award, presented by Provident Credit Union.

In its seventh year, the All-Star Teacher Award recognizes middle and high school teachers in Northern and Central California for their extraordinary dedication to their students and significant presence within their respective communities. The winner — based on the most votes from the public — can win $20,000 for their school.

Teaching for a total of 14 years, Lee spent the past eight years as the teacher librarian at Willard. During her time at the school, she has enhanced the literary culture at the middle school, helping the kids find books they love, according to Comcast SportsNet

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In addition to being a teacher librarian, Lee also hosts a weekly comic book club in collaboration with the local public librarian. She is the chair of the school’s technology committee and coordinates Willard’s annual food drive, which collects food for both the local food bank and for Willard families in need.

She hosts a book fair at her children’s elementary school and has been an active PTA member at both that school and at Willard.

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Lee has also spent time working as a librarian at the Berkeley Public librarian.

She frequently presents at conferences, including the California Library Association, American Library Association and Comic-Con. She is also on the board for the organization Bay Area Young Adult Librarians.

The All-Star Teacher Award winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 19 at an on-field ceremony prior to the San Francisco Giants/San Diego Padres game at AT&T Park and live during Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s telecast of Giants Pregame Live.

For a third straight year, Comcast SportsNet has teamed up with Provident Credit Union to donate $20,000 to the winning teacher’s school, up from $10,000 in past years.

Members of the public can vote for the 2013 All-Star Teacher by texting their vote to 82653 or voting online at CSNBayArea.com/allstarteacher2013 beginning Monday, April 15 and continuing through Sunday, June 2. Anyone with a valid email address is eligible to vote. Limit one vote per valid email address and one per phone number. 

Videos and photo galleries of the finalists will be featured online at CSNBayArea.com. In addition, the finalists will be interviewed on select Giants Pregame Live and A’s Pregame Live shows.  

Nomination forms were mailed to over 200 Northern and Central California schools and were available online at Providentcu.org and at all Provident Credit Union branch locations. Many teachers were nominated by peers, students, parents and principals, and the finalists were chosen by an elite panel of community leaders.

Finalists were selected by a panel of community leaders based on four categories: Overall Commitment, Excellence in Teaching, Rapport with Students and Level of Distinction. 


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