Sunday, July 20, 2008

Marsha Goren- One of 12 English teachers recognized in Israel on July 18th,2008

The English Teachers award ceremony was held on July 18th, 2008 at the Etai (English Teachers Association) conference to inspire other English teachers in Israel.

Marsha Goren is one of 12 English Teachers, who received the award after 28 years of dedicated and hard work in Israel. Her love of children gave her the strength she needed and she proved a teacher can make a difference.

This event organized by Dr. Judy Steiner the main inspectorate in Israel along with the different supervisors from the different districts in Israel brings recognition to a well deserved and hard working community of teachers who wish to better English teaching in Israel.

Mr. Rick Rosenberg from the American Embassy in Tel-Aviv said that the 12 recipients who were recognized showed the tremendous things being done in classrooms around the country. He said the American Embassy is proud to support such efforts in improving English teaching and technology skills to the students in Israel.

Each teacher was invited to the stage and each supervisor spoke about the educational achievements the winners implement through their work. Dr. Shoshana Plavin said that Marsha has always looked for authentic ways of teaching English and the combination of technology and English is a winning combination. She spoke of her impressions after having visited Marsha’s 6th graders in a lab lesson. She said Marsha has won more than 6 international awards including the prestigious Educator of the year award from Yad Vashem and the English inspectors felt that Marsha was worthy of this honorable English award.

As the winners were called up to receive their certificates and a book about Israel -60 years old, each project was presented on a screen showing the tremendous accomplishments and progress the English profession in Israel has acquired in the last decade.

The audience included principals, staff members, families and friends. Each of the teachers was congratulated with flowers and much applause and excitement!!


I can not even begin to describe my emotions. I felt so proud to be one of the 12 best. I also felt so special to be recognized in front of my loved ones and colleagues. Obviously all of the educators there were worthy of this special recognition and I wish them all many more years of teaching with much strength and love.

I warmly thank my principal Mrs. Hedy Rosenthal, my beloved principal for recommending me and sees me worthy of this huge honor as well as my supervisor Dr. Shoshana Plavin whose warm words during the ceremony touched my heart and soul.

To dream, to dare to do!! This is truly an inspiration to me that I dedicate to all the globaldreamers in our project and their educators around the world.

I also send my love and gratitude to Janet Barnstable, my colleague, friend and mentor. Janet has taught me so much and I am eternally grateful.

I also thank my loving friend Rozalija from Croatia who I will be meeting shortly on the island of Hvar at the NGO Summer camp. Our global collaboration and unique friendship has once again brought two special educators together again!

In addition special thanks go to Rick Glass and the Glass class who have brought so much to my students and me personally. Our strong friendship has brought us wonderful memories and we will continue dreaming with you and the kids forever.

I finally thank all of the educators and our partners and friends in Globaldreamers. The global collaboration was so evident in my presentation and people came up to me after the ceremony saying how important and unique Globaldreamers is and this sharing of knowledge can make the world a better place.

Lastly I thank my husband Moshe and my children Liat, Dvir, Shani, Betty and Yaron for their support and love. You are my life.

Who said dreams do not come true? It only took the Internet, determination and many global dreams to make my dreams come true!!

Thank you all,
Love,
Marsha Goren
Globaldreamers Coordinator
Israel

Saturday, July 5, 2008

End of the year message!! Come back next year.

Dear Friends,
It has been a fantastic year for us with all of you and wanted to write to thank you all again for the fabulous collaboration with all of you.
We finished our school year on June 30th and now are off until the first of September with the kids.
I had a wonderful evening of recognition in our city given to me by the Honorable Mayor Mr. Yitzhak Ohayon and the Deputy Mayor and Head of Education in the city Mr. Yaacov Ben Simchon with the educational staff from Ein Ganim, friends and family. It was unbelievable and you can see the documented evening here.
I will be travelling to Hvar to a summer camp to Rozalija for ten days this month and can hardly wait to see my special friend and her kids on the beautiful island of Hvar. It is truly a wonderful experience and I can not wait!!
I hope you are all well. I am looking forward to hearing from all of you and wishing you a wonderful summer and a well deserved vacation.
Sincerely,
Marsha Goren
Dream coordinator