CSU San Marcos Alumni and Roosevelt Middle School Teacher, Roxane Rollins, Named 2002 Disney's American Teacher Awards Honoree

Disney Awards $515,000 to Deserving Teachers and Schools

Roxane Rollins, a sixth, seventh and eighth grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Oceanside, Calif., has been selected a Disney’s American Teacher Awards honoree for 2002. Rollins is one of 32 teachers selected from more than 185,000 nominees. Rollins will be flown to Los Angeles with other outstanding teachers from across the country, who collectively will be receiving awards totaling $515,000, and who will be honored for their talents, skills and commitment to their profession in July 2003.

“Our nation’s teachers and their creativity are an integral component making a positive impact on our nation’s future,” said Michael D. Eisner, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “Disney’s American Teacher Awards is one way to recognize those whose dedication and devotion educate and help shape our nation’s children. Roxane Rollins exemplifies the best of the best. It is our honor to honor her and all the other teachers who do so much for so many.”
Rollins’ innovative classroom environment is centered around music. “It is music that bridges our ages, our experiences and our development. There is music to come in with and music to go out with and if the situation is right, there is even music to write or think with,” says Rollins. When she introduced the book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1964, she featured music classics from the 60’s such as Yakkety Yak and I Heard It Through The Grapevine. It is this constructive engagement, combined with her genuine enthusiasm to teach, that has earned Roxane Rollins a Disney’s American Teacher Award.

The 32 honorees, chosen by a national selection committee comprised of distinguished educators, are nominated in one of 10 teaching categories. In July, one finalist will be selected in each category, and the Outstanding Teacher of the Year will be chosen by the honorees from among the 10 Finalists.

The 10 teaching categories include:

• Elementary: Early Childhood, Primary and Intermediate
  
  
• Middle School/Junior High: The Sciences and The Humanities
  
  
• High School: The Sciences and The Humanities
  
  
• Kindergarten through 12th Grade: The Arts, Special Needs & Gifted Education; Wellness and Sports

The Walt Disney Company will award $10,000 to each of the 32 honorees, and their respective schools will receive $5,000. The 10 category finalists each will receive an additional $5,000. The Outstanding Teacher of the Year will be awarded $25,000, with $10,000 being given to the Outstanding Teacher's school.

In addition to the awards ceremony and monetary contributions, honorees will participate in a unique professional development program focused on innovative approaches to teaching and learning and leadership development. The teachers and their principals will attend a workshop in October 2003 at the Walt Disney World Resort® in Orlando, Fla., where they will learn how to share their creative teaching practices, and also develop an action plan focused on improving professional collaboration and teacher learning in their schools during the 2003-2004 school year.

Since 1989, Disney’s American Teacher Awards have saluted exemplary teachers in Kindergarten through 12th grade for innovative teaching methods that actively engage students in learning. The focus of Disney’s American Teacher Awards is to recognize the teaching profession, showcase creativity in the classroom and honor those who assist in developing creative teaching strategies in their school districts.

The honorees were chosen by a selection committee comprised of representatives of the following organizations: American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, The Council for American Private Education, Council for Exceptional Children, Council of Great City Schools, The Galef Institute, Harvard University’s Project Zero, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, National Education Association, National Middle School Association and National PTA. In addition, past Disney’s American Teacher Awards honorees have served on the selection committee.

Disney’s American Teacher Awards is part of DisneyHand, the worldwide outreach for the Walt Disney Company, whose mission is dedicated to making the dreams of families and children a reality through focused public service initiatives, community outreach and volunteerism in areas including learning, compassion, the arts and the environment.

To arrange media interviews, contact Hope Diamond or Anna Miranda at 818-760-7131.