Vickie Mike
New York State Teacher of the Year
Vickie Mike
Horseheads Teachers Association
Vickie Mike, a high school language teacher at Horseheads High School, was chosen as the 2009 New York State Teacher of the Year by the State Education Department.
Mike is the 39th New York State Teacher of the Year and the first from the Horseheads district where she has taught 27 years. She has served as the Horseheads department chairperson for Languages Other Than English for the last 16 years and was invited to participate in a Symposium of World Language Educators in China in October of 2007. Her principal of the last three years, James Abrams, describes her as embodying life long learning. "Mrs. Mike is always searching for a more engaging lesson, a new way to use technology in the classroom to enhance student learning, a better way to share ideas with colleagues and the best way to make a difference in the lives of her students."
Horseheads colleague, Mary Ann Schmitt, describes Vickie as representing "everything that is good about education and teaching, and [she] is truly a role model for all. Vickie is passionate about her profession, and she is intuitive, proactive and approachable. She works cooperatively with others, creating synergy through the individual strengths and contributions of the people with whom she works. Vickie has a strong work ethic and works tirelessly for her students, her colleagues and her school community."
Her commitment is evident in all of her work, particularly her travel abroad with students and parents. She is dedicated to connecting her school community to the larger global community and encouraging her students to become citizens of the world.
Other finalists were: Maribel Pregnall, a science teacher at Arlington High School in Lagrangeville; Joan D'Urso, an elementary inclusion teacher at Medford Elementary School in Patchogue; Deborah Dahlin, an art teacher at Elmcrest Elementary School in Liverpool; and Richard Lemke III, a science teacher at Sachem High School East in Farmingville.
The State Teacher of the Year Program is sponsored in part by NYSUT. It is run in conjunction with the National Teacher of the Year Program.