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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Surprise! Teacher Gets $25k
By Hailey Heinz
Journal Staff Writer
Dignitaries and policymakers from around the state staged an assembly Tuesday morning, pretending it was about schoolwide excellence.
Really, though, the whole thing was a ruse to surprise one teacher with a $25,000 prize.
Tamara Dunham, who has taught at Van Buren Middle School for 10 years, was recognized by the Milken Family Foundation. The award has been called the "Oscars of teaching" and is given each year to teachers who are recommended — without their knowledge — by a state panel.
"I'm afraid I might start to cry more than I already am," Dunham said tearfully as she accepted her award. "I'm completely shocked."
Dunham, who teaches language arts, brought the America's Choice Ramp-Up Advanced Math program to Van Buren, which is near Louisiana and Gibson SE. The program focuses on those who enter middle school two or three years behind in math.
She is also a sponsor of the Math, Engineering and Science Achievement program, and Van Buren students have won MESA competitions. Her students also have won a district poetry contest, and she sponsors a program that teaches environmental awareness through science activities.
"Dunham demonstrates her dedication to teaching by finding ways to improve the achievement level of her students," Secretary of Education Veronica Garcia said.
This year's 53 Milken winners will be flown to Los Angeles for an award ceremony and professional development.
"I'm just really glad that I work here," Dunham said. "I want to say thank you to all my students and everyone I work with, especially my mom."
Her mother, Kathleen DelMargo, also teaches at Van Buren. The mother-daughter team work in adjacent classrooms and started teaching just a year apart.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so proud of her," DelMargo said at the assembly. "I'm bursting."
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