Excellence in Education Award.mpg

From the Board Blue Book:

CARRIE PATERSON
MPS Physical Education/Swim Teacher
Gaenslen
Carrie Paterson has dedicated 26 years to the children of Milwaukee Public Schools as a physical education/swim teacher. Ms. Paterson has always been an active person and believes she does her best thinking when she is moving. She knew in seventh grade that
her future career would include passing on that belief.

Carrie's dedication to her profession, to her school, and, most important, to her students has earned her the admiration and respect of administration, peers, students, and parents. This has extended beyond Milwaukee Public Schools. In 2010, she was named
the Wisconsin Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year and the AAHPERD Midwest Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. She also received national recognition as one of six finalists for the National Adapted Physical Education Teacher of
the year. Ms. Paterson has experienced many professional rewards during her career and considers the many "miracles" that happen in the pool every year for her students to be some of the greatest.

Ms. Paterson administers a model physical education program at Gaenslen K-8 School. She has worked diligently to align her curriculum with the National Physical Education Standards, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's State Standards, and the
MPS Learning Targets. Most of the students at Gaenslen are placed in inclusive settings, where Ms. Paterson differentiates instruction based upon the students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

Always one to remain on the cutting edge of her profession, Ms. Paterson has engaged in a variety of professional development activities. She has presented at national and state physical education conventions on topics including swimming and camping for special
needs students. At the district level, she has presented best practices to physical education, classroom, and special education teachers.

Ms. Paterson enjoys involving the whole school in her program and takes a community approach to educating her students. She works directly with parents to show them how to successfully work with their children in an aquatic setting and has mentored many
students and new teachers over the years.

Ms. Paterson shared the following reflection on her career: We are what we repeatedly do. I come every day open to learning new things, knowing each and every student is unique and will require me growing as much as them to help them reach their full potential.

Category:

Education

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• May Excellence Award
• Milwaukee Public Schools
• MPS
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• Carrie Paterson