Simon Youth Foundation Announces Teacher and Administrator of the Year Honorees and Celebrates Academy Milestones
The recipients were honored at an awards ceremony on Monday evening
INDIANAPOLIS – November 6, 2018 – Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a national nonprofit dedicated to helping students graduate, honored its 2018 Administrator of the Year and Teacher of the Year at an awards ceremony on Monday during its annual conference in Indianapolis.
SYF is dedicated to helping students on the verge of dropping out graduate high school. SYF partners with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings located primarily in Simon malls. The Academies offer one-on-one learning and a flexible classroom environment. Since its inception in 1998, SYF has helped more than 17,000 students around the country graduate high school. There are currently 35 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, with plans to grow exponentially in the coming years.
In addition to its Academies, SYF supports students in their pursuit of post-secondary opportunities through its national scholarship program, awarding more than $1 million annually to graduating seniors who live in a Simon mall community.
Each year, SYF recognizes its exemplary educators for the impact they have made on their students, Academy and local communities through its peer-nominated Administrator and Teacher of the Year Awards. Both the Administrator and Teacher of the Year receive $2,000 honorariums for professional development opportunities, as well as comped travel for SYF’s 2019 Annual Conference.
The 2018 Administrator of the Year is Janice Cook, Executive Principal at Simon Youth Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy at Lincoln Park Technical and Trade Center in Knoxville, Tenn. Cook was recognized for her vision of excellence, compassion as an educator and instructional expertise. When she became Executive Principal two years ago, Cook immediately became a transformative leader, taking steps to improve and grow the alternative education program at Simon Youth Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy. She implemented several tactics to provide hope to students and ensure they felt supported as they pursued graduation day. Cook assigned an adult advocate to provide counseling to each student as they planned for the future, which often includes college or career training. She also introduced an exit portfolio program. Students now present their portfolios to a committee before graduation, showcasing their educational journey, scholarship opportunities and career exploration. In addition to the programs she put in place to make students feel supported, Cook provides professional development opportunities for her staff to help them understand the needs of their students and become better equipped with strategies to ensure their academic success.
SYF’s 2018 Administrator of the Year Nominees:
- Carmon Brown, Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Janice Cook, Simon Youth Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy at Lincoln Park Technical and Trade Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Jennifer Gorman, Simon Youth Academy at Prien Lake Mall (Lake Charles, La.)
- Jill Graham, Simon Youth Academy at Burlington (Burlington, Mass.)
- Maribel Lebron, Simon Youth Academy at Outlet Marketplace (Orlando, Fla.)
- Cindy Cisneros McGilvrey, Simon Youth Chester I. Lewis Academy (Wichita, Kan.)
- Jason Schoettmer, Simon Youth Academy at Edinburgh Premium Outlets (Edinburgh, Ind.)
The 2018 Teacher of the Year is Sonia Ledger. Ledger was nominated by her peers for the energy, compassion and dedication she brings to Simon Youth Academy at Outlet Marketplace. Often described by her colleagues as an SYF ambassador, she is truly committed to helping her students succeed and changing the perception of alternative education. Ledger is always present for her students, supporting them both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. Through her relationships with the mall team at Outlet Marketplace and the local community, she assists students in finding job and mentorship opportunities. She also implemented a Circle of Power and Respect (CPR) program at her Academy, which is designed to build community among students through a format of greeting, sharing, activity, and daily news. In addition to her work in the classroom, Ledger is an active volunteer, and encourages her students to participate in community service through monthly volunteer opportunities. As a result, students at her Academy have earned a higher amount of volunteer hours than any other group of alternative education students in their school district.
SYF’s 2018 Teacher of the Year Nominees:
- Dan Atkeson, Simon Youth Academy at Old Cockrill (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Jannice Clark, Simon Youth Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy at Lincoln Park Technical and Trade Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Sonia Ledger, Simon Youth Academy at Outlet Marketplace (Orlando, Fla.)
- Rebekah Olivieri, Simon Youth Academy at The Shops at Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, Calif.)
- Seena “Lisa” Rich, Simon Youth Academy at Valley Vista (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
In addition to the educators that were honored, several Simon Youth Academies celebrated milestone anniversaries of helping students graduate:
- Simon Youth Chester I. Lewis Academy (Wichita, Kan.) celebrated five years of service.
- Simon Youth Rose Tree Media Academy (Media, Penn.), Simon Youth Academy at Edinburgh Premium Outlets (Edinburgh, Ind.) and Simon Youth Clark-Pleasant Academy (Whiteland, Ind.) celebrated 10 years of service.
- Simon Youth Academy at Prien Lake Mall (Lake Charles, La.) celebrated 15 years of service.
SYF also recognized the Simon Youth Academies that achieved 100 percent graduation rates in the 2017-18 academic year:
- Simon Youth Academy at Burlington (Burlington, Mass.)
- Simon Youth Academy at Circle Centre Mall (Indianapolis)
- Simon Youth Academy at Edinburgh Premium Outlets
- Simon Youth Academy at Independence Center (Independence, Mo.)
- Simon Youth Academy at Northshore Mall (Seattle)
- Simon Youth Academy at Outlet Marketplace (Orlando, Fla.)
- Simon Youth Academy at Prien Lake Mall (Lake Charles, La.)
- Simon Youth Academy at Seattle University (Seattle)
- Simon Youth Academy at Sunland Park Mall (El Paso, Texas)
- Simon Youth Academy at Valley Vista High School (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
For more information on Simon Youth Foundation and its 35 nationwide Academies, please visit syf.org.
About Simon Youth Foundation
Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is a national nonprofit committed to helping students who are on the verge of dropping out of high school graduate and pursue post-secondary educational opportunities. SYF works toward this mission by partnering with local public school districts to launch Simon Youth Academies, alternative classroom settings located primarily in Simon Malls, and by providing Simon Youth Scholarships to Academy graduates and students who live near Simon Malls. Since its inception, SYF has maintained a 90 percent graduation rate at its 35 Simon Youth Academies in 15 states, helping more than 17,000 students graduate, and has awarded more than $17 million in post-secondary scholarships. Visit syf.org to learn more.
