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	Last updated 12.15.04

The NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence

2004 Finalist and Recipient of The Horace Mann–
NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence

Thomas Joseph White
Washington Education Association (WEA)

Thomas Joseph White is a third- and fourth-grade teacher at Lynnwood Elementary School in Lynnwood, Washington. A 20-year teaching veteran, he takes care in getting to know his students and adapting to their learning styles.

Through carefully designed, collaborative projects, Mr. White challenges his students to contribute their unique talents to achieve success together while having fun. With over 20 different cultural traditions and languages represented in his classroom, Mr. White works hard to “cultivate respect for different traditions and beliefs, and provide opportunities for each child to succeed and excel.” He involves his students in the community by taking them on walking field trips and inviting guest speakers to the classroom.

As a National Board Certified Teacher, Mr. White mentors others trying to attain National Board certification. At the state level, he helped to review a pilot program to provide peer assistance to experienced teachers. At his school, he introduced the concept of lesson study, a Japanese model for collegial development, and took the lead on writing several grants to fund the project, including a 2004 grant from The NEA Foundation. Within his district, Mr. White has participated in an ambassador program that trains teachers to speak to community groups about education issues in order to cultivate support for public education. He has also served as a teacher representative on his county’s citizen advisory board. Mr. White is currently on the Board of Examiners for NCATE, the national accreditation agency for colleges of education.

Mr. White has been on the executive board of the Edmonds Education Association for three years and has worked intensely with the bargaining team. He is a building representative for the WEA and served as the Pacific Regional Coordinator for the NEA’s Democratic Caucus in 2003. He has also been an active member of the district’s professional excellence committee, which meets to discuss policies before they reach the bargaining level.

Mr. White obtained a Master of Education from Seattle Pacific University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington.

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