District News

THS teacher honored for making a difference

Tahoma High School math teacher Malinda Shirley is one of six teachers in the Puget Sound region to be honored in the second-annual Teachers Who Make a Difference program, sponsored by Sylvan Learning Centers, KING TV and Northwest Cable News.

Shirley received the surprise honor during an afternoon math class, when Patrick Lofy and Andrea Torras of Maple Valley Sylvan Learning Center announced her award to the applause of the students. Shirley now has her choice of receiving $1,000 or a trip for two to Hawaii. The prizes will be presented to the six teacher-recipients on Feb. 20 at the KING-TV studios in Seattle.

“What a shock it was when the presenting group came walking into my classroom,” Shirley said. “I did not even k now I had been nominated!”

Lofy told Shirley and her students that the award program “is designed to recognize the great work that all of our teachers are doing on a daily basis to educate our kids. More specifically, the program seeks to find those examples where teachers are truly inspiring our students and making a difference in the lives of those they teach.”

The nomination letter for Shirley cites her dedication to teaching and the many extra hours she devotes to helping students. “Her heart is bottomless when it comes to the kids and her dedication is commendable,” the letter stated. “She gives more to our kids and community than we will ever know or ever be able to repay.”

Shirley said she is honored to receive the award. “I am thrilled that the sponsoring organizations have made it a priority to show teachers working to impact students” she said. “Especially at Tahoma, I have great examples to follow. Here the staff’s positive personalities are contagious. Their interest in the students is evident each day.”

Tahoma Principal Terry Duty attended the brief presentation ceremony and later said that Shirley “is a wonderful teacher and very deserving of this honor.”