Home2009 Utah Teacher of the Year
USOE News Release
SALT LAKE CITY - Utah State Deputy Superintendent Larry Shumway today named Salt Lake City's Dilworth Elementary second grade teacher Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh Utah's 2009 Teacher of the Year.
Crystal Fish, a mathematics teacher at Hillcrest Junior High in Murray was named first runner up and Karen H. Gorringe, a sixth grade teacher from Bluffdale Elementary in the Jordan School District was named second runner-up.
Gallagher-Fishbaugh, 51, of Salt Lake succeeds Grand County High School history teacher Hal Adams as Utah Teacher of the Year and will go on to compete in the national Teacher of the Year competition. Gallagher-Fishbaugh has 29 years of teaching experience, all but five years of it at Dilworth Elementary.
"Sharon is loved by the parents and students she has had the privilege of coming in contact with," said Dilworth Principal Kenneth D. Limb. "She is professional in her relationships with all, but exudes love, compassion and high expectations for her students and parents."
That view was echoed by parent Michelle P. Roderick who said her 7-year-old son got "schoolsick," as opposed to "homesick," during the winter break in 2005. "I'm happy because of Christmas but I really miss my classroom and I really miss Mrs. Gallagher," Roderick quoted her son as saying.
Gallagher-Fishbaugh is a National Board Certified Teacher and was a Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education finalist last year.
Gallagher-Fishbaugh was selected from a group of 24 teachers nominated by their school districts, charter schools and the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. As Utah's 2009 Teacher of the Year, Gallagher-Fishbaugh received a $10,000 check from the Utah State Office of Education, a SMART Board interactive white board from SMART Technologies Inc., a classroom wireless microphone system from Audio Enhancement, a computer from P.C. Laptops, a full scholarship in a degree program offered through Walden University's Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, and trips to Dallas for the National Teacher of the Year conference and Washington, D.C., to meet with the President. She will also spend time at the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. In addition, Utah's Teacher of the Year will represent the state in the national Teacher of the Year competition.
Runners up Fish and Gorringe received checks for $5,000 and $3,000 respectively. All Utah teachers of the year were honored at a banquet at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Salt Lake City and received a clock from O.C. Tanner Co., a gift basket from Great Harvest Bread Company and a gift certificate from McDonald's.
