Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Bill Van Tassel
TURNER — Turner Primary School second-grade teacher April Hartford has received the 2016 Patience W. Norman Award.
Hartford was presented the award at a Dec. 21 school assembly in the gymnasium filled with the student body of pre-K through second-grade learners, fellow teachers, and staff.
After the passing out of various behavior awards to the students, Principal Theresa Gillis introduced Superintendent Kimberly Brandt, who gave a brief overview of the annual Patience Norman Award. The kids erupted in applause and shouts as the name of April Harford was announced.
The award is named after a former history teacher who believed her students were capable of excellence. Norman worked her students, challenging them to surpass their own expectations.
The award has been established at the Maine Community Foundation to recognize full-time teachers in RSU 52 who emulate Norman’s education philosophy; who stimulate intellectual curiosity and raise aspirations.
The award also carries with it a $5,000 prize and the hope that its yearly presentation will promote teacher retention and teaching excellence.
April Hartford has been teaching at Turner Primary for 13 years, having begun her career at Gibbs Mill (Livermore Elementary) School.
Former Livermore student Nicole (Couture) Van Tassel was in April’s second-grade class when the new teacher was fresh out of college.
“She was so sweet and excited about everything we were doing,” Nicole remembered. Then, when Couture was in the eighth grade, she chose to shadow her favorite former teacher for a class assignment, thinking she might want to be a teacher one day herself.
Hartford was nominated for the award by her colleagues at TPS.
PHOTO CAPTION: Turner Primary School teacher April Hartford with her second-grade class after returning from a Dec. 21 morning assembly where Hartford was awarded the annual RSU 52 Patience W. Norman Award for Excellence. Presenting the award was new Superintendent Kimberly Brandt.
