NEA Foundation to Recognize OC’s Amy Andersen with National Teaching Award

WASHINGTON – NEA Foundation announced that Amy T. Andersen, an American Sign Language (ASL) teacher at Ocean City High School, and the 2018 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, is one of 46 public school educators who will receive the prestigious California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala next February in Washington.
The California Casualty Awards for Teaching Excellence awardees are nominated by their peers for their dedication to the profession, community engagement, professional development, attention to diversity and advocacy for fellow educators.
Ocean City School District Superintendent Kathleen Taylor, Ed.D., nominated Andersen for the award. “Through her teaching, Ms. Andersen empowers her students to find their voice, their passion and their path to make both our school district and our community stronger,” stated Taylor. “She always finds ways to involve the deaf community in her lessons and annually gives back through a widely popular show that blends entertainment with American Sign Language.
“I am thrilled that the NEA Foundation has recognized Ms. Andersen’s efforts to blend instruction with character-building experiences. This award caps off a successful year for her, during which she was named the 2018 New Jersey Teacher of the Year and one of four finalists for the 2018 National Teacher of the Year.”
Each year, the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala draws almost 1,000 supporters of public education, and thousands more online, to applaud these awardees. At the gala, the educators are truly the stars, celebrated throughout the night with music, performances, videos and more.
“We are delighted that during our 50th anniversary next year, we will celebrate the largest number of awardees in our history,” stated Harriet Sanford, NEA Foundation president and CEO. “These educators are keeping the promise of public education by creating learning opportunities for their students that are relevant and rigorous. They advocate for each other, the profession and public education.
“We deeply appreciate California Casualty’s partnership in recognizing these exemplary educators, and we look forward to honoring them next February on stage at the beautiful National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. and with virtual celebrations across the country.”
“We are glad to have the chance to show our respect and appreciation for the work of public school educators each year,” stated Beau Brown, California Casualty CEO. “We applaud the great work of the California Casualty awardees.”
Of the 46 state awardees who were selected by their National Education Association state affiliate, five finalists will be announced at the beginning of the school year and receive $10,000 at the gala. The nation’s top educator will be revealed at the gala Feb. 8, 2019 and receive an additional $25,000. The gala will be live streamed at neafoundation.org
As a state awardee, Andersen is guaranteed $650, which she will use to further strengthen ASL education.
NEA Foundation and National Education Association jointly present the awards. Find more information about the awards here, and a gallery of this year’s awardees here.