FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2009 

National Coalition for Public School Options Announces First National American Pioneer of Teaching
 Teachers recognized as part of National Public Charter Schools Week beginning May 4

WASHINGTON - The National Coalition for Public School Options (NCPSO), an alliance of parents working together to protect parents' rights to access the best public school options for their children, is proud to announce the first national American Pioneer of Teaching. Jane Ferris from the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School has been named the national award winner out of nearly 900 nominations in the competition held to recognize top performing elementary and secondary teachers in public charter schools, magnet schools, virtual and online schools.

"NCPSO is proud to recognize these pioneering teachers who exemplify the innovative instruction and dedication which are essential tools to meet the learning needs of all types of students," said Lori Cooney, NCPSO president and parent of three virtual academy students. "It is important to recognize the integral role teachers play in non-traditional settings as we work to protect educational options so every student has a chance to succeed."

Twelve state finalists were selected by the NCPSO board to compete for the national award announced today as part of both National Public Charter Schools Week and National Teacher Appreciation Week.  Information on these awards can be found on the NCPSO website at http://www.publicschooloptions.org/.

Jane is known for reenactments of historical events, she is recognized by the student who nominated her for the ability to "make history come alive." In a recent unit on the Great Depression, she fed her students an authentic 1930s soup kitchen lunch, and during a study of WWI, she created a "war zone" in her classroom to show how dangerous trench warfare really was.

"Six years ago, I made the choice to become a charter school teacher and have never looked back!  I value the flexibility and creativity that I have experienced as a teacher in the classroom, as well as the support of colleagues who are extremely dedicated to education," said Ferris.  "Families have made the conscious choice to select a learning environment that best suits the needs of their children, where we all work together in the spirit of learning."

The National Coalition for Public School Options is an alliance of parents that supports and defends parents' rights to access the best public school options for their children. The Coalition supports the creation of public school options, including charter schools, online schools, magnet schools, open enrollment policies and other innovative education programs. Additionally, we advocate for free and equal access without restrictions to these public schools for all children.

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