Newsworthy award

Using newspapers to help expand her students' view of the world, Savannah Middle School teacher Susan Ormond was recognized this week for her work with Freedom Communications' Newspaper in Education program.

Since 2005, Ormond has used NIE with her sixth grade classes to enrich classroom curriculum. Last week, Ormond was awarded for her efforts and received The Free Press 2007-08 NIE Teacher of the Year award.

"It was an honor to receive the award," Ormond said. "My students love what they are doing because of the newspapers."

Each week about 30 copies of The Free Press are delivered to Ormond's Savannah Middle School class. Two sixth-grade students, Nick Lungi and Anshonee Addison, said they enjoy learning about their community through the newspaper.

"I think it's good to read the newspaper," Addison said. "I like what we do with our newspaper classroom activity."

The students spend one day each week using the NIE program for additional instruction. Ormond said the program helps motivate her students.

"The North Carolina Standard Course of Study requires students to experience all forms of the media," she said. "It's good we are able to get the newspapers in our schools."

On Thursday, students were using the newspapers to prepare for their end of grade vocabulary skills test. Both Lungi and Anshonee and their classmates worked to identify key vocabulary words in the newspaper's articles.

"The students have really responded to NIE and it helps them stay on task better," Ormond said. Ormond received a red-marbled apple paper weight with a gold leaf stem from NIE coordinator Molly Taylor this week during an award ceremony held at Savannah Middle.

Several teachers were recognized nationwide this week by Freedom Communication's NIE program. Twenty teachers, including Ormond, received a NIE Teacher of the Year Award.

Lenoir County School teacher nominees for the award included Valeria Taylor of South Lenoir High School, Lee Holder of North Lenoir High School, Brenda Griffin of Southeast Elementary, and Pamela Vause of Kinston High School.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomen.com.