VVES Teacher Finalist For Heart of Education Award

By TYRA LUDVIGSON

The Progress

Virgin Valley Elementary School teacher Angela Poole has been selected as a finalist for the Heart of Education award. Specific to teachers in the Clark County School District; the focus of this award is to put the spotlight on amazing teachers who go above and beyond the normal call of duty.

The program for the award was started by the Smith Center for the Performing Art with help from The Rogers Foundation. The group is supported by CCSD, but is managed and run by community leaders who believe that teachers deserve special recognition for their hard work.

While many teachers are nominated, only about 4% of all teachers in Clark County are selected as finalists for this award. The process for nomination is open to the public and remains anonymous, so no one, not even Poole, knows who nominated her for the award.

“It was a special feeling knowing someone took time out of their crazy life to nominate me,” Poole said in an interview last week.

The forms for nomination are extensive and ask specifics on what the nominee does that make them deserving and the difference that they make in the community.

Poole is definitely deserving and has left an impact on both valleys as she is on the board for R.A.I.S.E. Mesquite, a group that focuses on raising awareness and funds for a myriad of public issues. She also spends her free time volunteering at Brooke’s Good Deeds in Logandale. This group organizes and runs a vital food pantry in the Moapa Valley.

Poole also shares her educational talents as she volunteers to help teach cognitive stimulation classes in Logandale for those suffering with dementia and the early stages of it. She spends her time challenging and building memory for the older generations in the valley.

Poole has been a teacher for 18 years– the last five of them spent at Virgin Valley Elementary. She has been a special education teacher for the majority of her career, but has recently switched into the resource department.

Poole has absolutely loved her time spent as a teacher. She is very passionate about sharing her talents. Her favorite parts of teaching come from her time spent with the kids.
“I think it’s just seeing the difference you make in people’s lives,” she said. “Seeing kids have an ‘ah-ha’ moment is the best and knowing you created that. Giving of yourself to someone else and being able to share knowledge with someone else is what makes it worth it.”

The Heart of Education Awards for CCSD Teachers does an amazing job at appreciated the unsung heroes.

Myron Martin, the President and CEO of the Smith Center, said, “We have great teachers living right here in our community. These include educators who go above and beyond to put kids first and not only teach, but also inspire. They work tirelessly and never ask for recognition.”

Teachers most definitely appreciate all the love and support that this foundation gives and encourages the community to give.
“It’s good to see the positive feelings around teachers,” Poole said. “All the teachers I know have a great heart!”

The winners of the award will be announced later this month at an awards ceremony hosted at the Smith Center. Of all the outstanding applicants, only 20 will be selected as winners. Each winner will receive a $5,000 prize for themselves and a $1,000 prize awarded to the teacher’s school.

The winning teacher will decide how the money awarded to their school is spent.