FeedsTeacher of the Year
Belleville High School teacher receives award
After working eight years in broadcast news, Jason Strzalkowski witnessed a lot that he felt could be applied to the classroom.
“I saw things good and bad,” he said. “It became difficult at times, but my TV career lead me to teaching.”
His two-year teaching career at Belleville High School also led to his being named “Teacher of the Year” by Wal-Mart. He was nominated by Patrice Taylor, who will be a senior at the school next year.
“This was the third year I had her as a student and I worked with her a lot. Unfortunately, this was the last year I’ll have her as a student,” said Strzalkowski, a social sciences and world cultures teacher. “When I heard I received this I was in shock, but it’s nice to get a pat on the back. It’s also nice that the high school is getting some positive attention.”
As part of the Wal-Mart Good Works community involvement program, the company recognizes teachers across the U.S. each year. Since 1996, more than 40,000 teachers have been recognized.
April Warner, a department manager at Wal-Mart, said the committee chose Strzalkowski because of the student entry.
“We haven’t had too many high school students come in here. Her entry showed that she really took the time to come in and nominate him,” said Warner. “We found him to be the best qualified for the award.”
Apparently, so did his students.
“I try to show the students how the rest of the world lives,” said Strzalkowski. “A lot of the kids in the school district have never even left Wayne County; these kids don’t travel. I’ve been all over the world and I try to encourage them to have big dreams. I tell them about my mistakes and how they can learn from them and bounce back.”
“My students get to see how passionate I am. I love opening a window to new places and encouraging them to see it for themselves,” he added. “I listen to the kids, give them my ear, extra effort and do my best to show them why everything matters.”
Strzalkowski said he credits that to his experience.
“At one point I went to school from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., then from 2:30-11:30 p.m. I worked at the TV station. I figured out I was driving about 1,200 miles a week. It was insane, but it made me who I am,” he said. “Journalism was a lot of fun. I got to do some crazy things, like interview Al Gore and become involved with Michael Moore when he made ‘Bowling for Columbine’, but it eventually dissipated and I was left with the bad incidents. That’s when I went to teaching, which is really the same thing as journalism just the context is different.”
“I went to social studies because it’s about the world, people, places, news; it’s all interacting,” added Strzalkowski.
As the area winner of the award, Strzalkowski received a $1,000 grant from the Wal-Mart/ Sam’s Club Foundation to benefit Belleville High School, along with a polo shirt and a gift card. The funds helped purchase a digital media projector for the school.
Strzalkowski, 33, will now go on to the state competition. There he could be chosen as “Teacher of the Year” for Michigan and take home $10,000 for the school district. If he wins the state honor, he would then move on to the national competition.
To nominate a teacher for next year, visit any area Wal-Mart. Applications will be accepted until February and the winner will be announced in May.
