Two Mehlville School District teachers received Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teachers awards: Erin Gaubatz, English language arts teacher at Bernard Middle School, and Alison Czarniak, third-grade teacher at Point Elementary School.
The Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education awards this honor every two years to up to two teachers in their first or second year of teaching from their member colleges. Gaubatz is one of the honorees from Maryville University, and Czarniak is one of the honorees from St. Louis University.
In addition to teaching eighth-grade English language arts, Gaubatz also coaches Bernard’s FIRST Lego League team, the Patribots, and she coaches the school’s drama club. This is Gaubatz’s first year in teaching.
“Erin’s students are excited to be in her classroom. She builds a great culture for learning together,” said Lori Sullivan, principal at Bernard. “She loves teaching, and she loves her students.”
Czarniak is in her second year of teaching at Point Elementary School.
“Alison is always looking for new and creative ways to reach her kids,” said Shannon Pike, principal at Point. “She’s well-liked by her students and also our staff. For a second-year teacher, I think that speaks very highly.”
Czarniak serves as the co-facilitator for the innovation technology team at Point, Pike said. She’s collaborative by nature and transfers what she learns on that team into the classroom while also sharing with other teachers.
Pictured: (L-R) Erin Gaubatz and Alison Czarniak