Highlights of This Week’s Program
Teacher of the Year Award
Gene Long, President Roland, Rick Matteoli and Matt Parris
Member Gene Long presented our Vocational Services Teacher of the Year Award. Gene was particularly impressed with the Antelope Speech and Debate studies. His daughter was forced to take a class in Speech and Debate, and complained bitterly at the start of the school year. By the end of the year, she was in love with the class. Gene credits the teachers with inspiring his daughter.
Rick Matteoli, the Vice-Principal at Antelope High School, introduced Matt Parris. Matt is our Teacher of the Year. He teaches speech and debate. The Antelope High School debate team is very new. In its 1st year it sent 2 students to the State level competition. In its 2nd year, it sent 3 students. Having spent 37 years in the field of education, Rick has rarely seen a teacher inspire such success in their students.
Matt says his primary goal is motivating students. Not all kids immediately find their niche in school. Matt helps them. With 40 kids in a class, it’s hard for each child to find something within themselves to be proud of. Matt says he lives for each day when a child has a “oh yeah” look on their face. They have found something new about themselves. It’s a wonderful feeling. Matt thanked the club for its donation. It will be used to buy subscriptions to journals and magazines for the club.