Wallingford teacher Chris Stone was honored Friday night in Washington, D.C., at the NEA Foundation Awards Gala. From left are Harriet Sanford, NEA Foundation President & CEO; Marita Zuraitis, President & CEO of Horace Mann Educators Corporation; Stone; Sheila Cohen, CEA President; Dennis Van Roekel, NEA President; Mark Howard Chichester, NEA Foundation Board of Directors Chair.
Glamor, pageantry, and the red carpet are a world away from a typical classroom teacher’s job, but Wallingford educator Chris Stone was one of the lucky teachers who got to experience a moment in the spotlight recently. Stone was recognized on the national stage Friday night as one of only five recipients of the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.
Stone was honored at the NEA Foundation’s annual gala, known as the Academy Awards of public education. The event is a celebration of the men and women who work in America’s public schools.
“Chris is innovative, creative, and an exemplary educator,” said CEA President Sheila Cohen. “He has demonstrated the professionalism, leadership, and teaching expertise to be an excellent recipient for this award.”
Read more about Stone’s work with students in Wallingford here, here, and here.
As part of his award, Stone received $10,000. His class also received digital arts training from the Pearson Foundation to produce a video, which premiered at the gala, to honor Stone’s award-winning teaching. Watch the video here or below.
