Omaha, Nebraska In recognition of inspirational teachers who motivate students to achieve their highest potential, Thomas Whisinnand, a fourth-grade teacher at Ronald W. Reagan Elementary School in Nebraska’s Millard Public School District, has been named the national winner of the National University System Today’s announcement of the 2019 grand prize winner concludes the first annual, $500,000 award campaign to honor the nation's top inspiring teachers, which included 51 finalists representing each state and the District of Columbia. Today also marks the official launch of the 2020 Sanford Teacher Awards, open to all PreK-12 teachers nationwide.
Each of the 51 finalists previously received a $10,000 Sanford Teacher Award for demonstrating their commitment to creating inspirational and harmonious classrooms that support student development and achievement. The state winners, as well as five Inaugural Sanford Teacher Award recipients who were identified earlier in the 2019 campaign, teach in a diverse range of schools, including those in some of the nation’s most rural areas to those in some of the nation’s largest cities, and each of them qualified for the national title that comes with a grand prize total of $50,000.
Whisinnand, a native of Norfolk, Va., who has taught for 10 years, was recognized for exemplifying five characteristics of inspiring teaching, which include: enthusiasm for teaching; empathy and warmth towards all students; fostering positive relationships with all students; creating a safe and inclusive learning environment; and recognizing student strengths.