EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2008

Lake Chelan School District

 

Employee Nominated:  Marty Rothlisberger  (Math Teacher, Chelan High School)

 

Reasons why this nominated employee meets the criteria:

1.  Employee consistently provides excellence to students, programs, school, and district in all endeavors:

Marty Rothlisberger is an outstanding educator and a leader in our Mathematics Department.  To further qualify his teaching ability, I have included (as an attachment) our WASL results over the past 5 years.  Marty has taught all of our Geometry sections over this time period.  Geometry is considered  a “key course” in passing the WASL.  In this 5 year time frame, our scores have improved by 30%, and this past year we were number 1 in our region!  Such results are a direct result of Marty’s effectiveness, and ability as a teacher.  Recently, he completed a 66 page document titled “Avoiding Common Errors on the WASL”.  The document is based upon Lessons Learned From Scoring Student Work, a compilation by the Mathematics Initiative Team of common misunderstandings in student work that were observed by Washington educators while range finding and scoring the WASL.  Problems from this document are intended for independent study by students, for guided practice in classrooms, and as reference for mathematics teachers. This work demonstrates yet another example of Marty’s professionalism, his williness to help students and teachers, and his commitment to excellence in teaching.

 

2.   Employee consistently communicates in a positive manner to students, staff, parents, and community.

      Mr. Rothlisberger is well aware of the importance of building relationships with his students. He teaches “all” students and not only cares that they learn; he cares deeply about them as people.  Marty is always available to provide students extra help.  His room is open at 8 am and students know that they can always count on him for the help they need to learn.  He allows students a second chance to retake quizzes before and after school and during the lunch period on Fridays.

      This year we have implemented an Advisory period for students.  Marty has embraced this idea and taken the program to new heights.  He has developed an ”Academic Plan of Improvement” form (included as an attachment) that he uses with his students and he has shared with all staff.  On Friday’s you will find Marty teaching guitar lessons to his Advisory students.  Through community donations, almost all of his advisory students have a guitar.  This is just another example of Marty “going the extra mile” for his students.

 

3.  Employee is a positive role model to students, staff, parents, and community.

      Marty Rothlisberger is a true professional in every sense of the word.  He is highly respected by all students, staff, the community and the administration. He acts as positive role model for the entire community.  He has served, and led several mission trips with students from his church, he teaches and models sportsmanship with his tennis team, and he serves on the academic eligibility appeals committee at our school.  He is a man that has earned a highly regarded reputation as a result of his character qualities.  Marty continues to look for ways to improve himself and recently has committed to pursuing National Board Certification. 

 

We are extremely fortunate to have Marty Rothlisberger’s as an employee in our school district.  He is the “anchor” of an extremely effective math department; one that I consider to be the best in the region and among the best in the State.  Marty is an outstanding person, teacher, and a true professional.  He goes about his work quietly and deliberately, without ever looking for, or expecting accolades or praise.  He is a very humble person, however; his commitment to excellence in the classroom, his students, and to his own personal growth speak loudly.  In my twenty plus years in education, there are few teachers that I would rank as high as Marty Rothlisberger.