Nepal RPCV Roger Maynard, Jr. awarded George Olmsted, Jr., Class of 1924, Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching



For 32 years, Maynard has taught at Hartford High, "all, while squeezing in lessons about life, love, and, to be quite honest, the pursuit of happiness. While clearly a person who values education and academic accomplishment," Foote says, "Maynard often emphasizes that he'd rather see his students earn Cs and be good people than score a 4.0 but not contribute as citizens and human beings." After graduating from Williams in 1968, Maynard joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Nepal. He then taught in a public school in the South Bronx before moving to Vermont to teach social studies at Hartford High, a regional school for several towns.

Nepal RPCV Roger Maynard, Jr. awarded George Olmsted, Jr., Class of 1924, Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching

Four U.S. Secondary School Teachers Recognized as Extraordinary by Williams College Seniors

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., May 21, 2007 - Williams College will award its national George Olmsted, Jr., Class of 1924, Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching to Diana M. Canterbury, teacher of theater arts at Worcester (Mass.) Academy; Roger Maynard, Jr., teacher of history and psychology at Hartford High School in White River Junction, Vt.; Kathryn Chang, now a teacher of chemistry at Saratoga (Calif.) High School; and Tracy Suggs, teacher of chemistry at Vestal (N.Y.) Senior High School.

Each year, Williams seniors nominate for the Olmsteds high school teachers who were influential in their lives and a committee of faculty, staff, and students select winners from among the nominees.

In 2005, the Olmsted Prizes received national attention when Thomas L. Friedman, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, highlighted the program and the prize recipients in his column, "Behind Every Grad �".

"The best way to ensure that we have teachers who inspire their students is if we recognize and reward those who clearly have done so," he wrote.

The awards consist of $3,000 for each teacher and $2,500 for his or her school. Winners are honored during Commencement at Williams. The Olmsted Prize, established in 1983, is funded by an endowment from the estates of George Olmsted, Jr., '24, and his wife, Frances, who wished to recognize excellence in secondary school teaching. Olmsted, a lifelong proponent of superior teaching, was the president and chairman of the board of the S. D. Warren Paper Co.

[Excerpt]

Roger Maynard, Jr., Hartford High School, White River Junction, Vt.

Roger Maynard, Jr. "is able to connect with all types of students, regardless of their academic prowess, aspirations, or backgrounds. A play one night, a basketball game the next� Mr. Maynard is there." Williams senior Hannah Foote describes him as a person who "makes students feel valuable for their existence and not for their deeds."

For 32 years, Maynard has taught at Hartford High, "all, while squeezing in lessons about life, love, and, to be quite honest, the pursuit of happiness. While clearly a person who values education and academic accomplishment," Foote says, "Maynard often emphasizes that he'd rather see his students earn Cs and be good people than score a 4.0 but not contribute as citizens and human beings."

After graduating from Williams in 1968, Maynard joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Nepal. He then taught in a public school in the South Bronx before moving to Vermont to teach social studies at Hartford High, a regional school for several towns.

Maynard's greatest joy comes from the classroom. "I simply love to teach," he says. "With 26 students with a wide variety of learning styles, vastly different motivation levels, often acute emotional needs, teaching is quite a challenge�I like to think that I am like Mark Hopkins on one end of the log, and that I am able to engage that other student on the other end."

Maynard recognizes the need for building relationships that can encourage students to achieve. "Some of my students are great athletes, but not motivated students," he says. "By attending their athletic events, I show them that I value the work they are putting into this part of their lives, and that likewise they should be putting the same effort into their class work."

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: May, 2007; Peace Corps Nepal; Directory of Nepal RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Nepal RPCVs; Secondary Education; Awards; Vermont; Peace Corps Bibliography; Peace Corps Countries of Service; Peace Corps History; Bulletin Board; Recent Peace Corps News

When this story was posted in June 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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By Thelma B. Bitayo (119.92.106.250) on Monday, November 16, 2009 - 5:29 pm: Edit Post

Dear Sir/Madam
I am Thelma B. Bitayo,56 age, a good citizen of Philippines very much interested to apply in teaching position in your place.I am an experienced teacher in our country,if ever given an opurtunity to enternalized teaching in other country and people I love it, just 6 months or a year only.