6 Exemplars Receive Educators Award

Six educators relished in the applause of city officials, family and friends Monday night, as Greenbelt’s Advisory Committee on Education (ACE) honored each exemplar with a 16th Annual ACE Award.

“This is one of our special meetings,” declared Mayor Judith Davis at the start.”And you can tell, because it’s a full house.”

Davis wasn’t kidding, as dozens showed up at Greenbelt’s city-council chambers, including County Councilwoman Ingrid Turner and several local principals.

In addition to well-wishers, certificates of recognition, pins and T-shirts, each of the ACE Award recipients also received an engraved, gold and red apple.

“The apple being, of course, the recognized symbol of education,” said Jon Gardner, who chairs ACE and introduced each awardee, including four teachers, an attendance secretary and department chair.

“The purpose of the awards,” Gardner explained, “is to recognize a school-based adult who has made an exceptional contribution to the schools that Greenbelt children attend.”

Paraprofessional Ramon Russell, for instance, was singled out for having led a campaign to have murals painted in Spring Hill Lake Elementary School’s cafeteria, gym and playground.

Maria Frontanes, an ESOL teacher who turned up in support of Russell, said Russell’s ability to motivate kids is how he earned her vote. “He always has this smile on his face,” she said.

Meanwhile, Greenbelt Elementary School’s Elizabeth Stewart-Hancock, a fourth-grade teacher, earned the ACE award for her creativity within the classroom, as well as for her rapport with students and fellow teachers.

“It really means a lot to me,” she said, adding of her and her peers: “We just love what we do.”

Other award recipients included Robert Crowley, a first-grade teacher at Magnolia Elementary School; Pamela Coffield, a first-grade teacher at Turning Point Academy; Alemnesh Allen, a special education department chair and Francine Powell, an attendance secretary known for her strong work ethic.

Now in its 16th year, ACE operates as a liaison between local officials, PTAs and principals in the pursuit of stronger policies and schools.