Venezuela RPCV Mary C. Newlandis recipient of of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award



Newland, who grew up on a farm in Missouri, said she always loved school and it was a natural career choice. She also was influenced by her Spanish teacher, who was from Panama. She met her husband, Jim, in college in Missouri and the two joined the Peace Corps, where she was able to practice her Spanish in Venezuela.

Venezuela RPCV Mary C. Newlandis recipient of of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award

Mary C. Newland, Claudia J. Messier and Nicole R. Costello of Palmer High School are this year's recipients of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

By LORI STABILE
lstabile@repub.com

PALMER - Mary C. Newland, Claudia J. Messier and Nicole R. Costello now have something else in common to share in addition to being teachers at Palmer schools - they are this year's recipients of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards.

[Excerpt]

Newland is in her 18th year of teaching at Palmer High School, where she is the foreign language department chairman and a Spanish teacher.

"I was completely surprised. I was not expecting it at all," Newland, 64, said about getting the award.

Newland, who grew up on a farm in Missouri, said she always loved school and it was a natural career choice. She also was influenced by her Spanish teacher, who was from Panama. She met her husband, Jim, in college in Missouri and the two joined the Peace Corps, where she was able to practice her Spanish in Venezuela.

She loves to travel, and has taken her students on trips to Costa Rica, Spain and Mexico to learn about other cultures.

"I think it's important for people, especially young people, to learn as many different languages as they can because it will help them in their careers and their travels, and they will just have a better understanding of people in the world," Newland said.

Next year will be Newland's last before retirement, so the award is especially meaningful.

Newland's nomination form said she is an excellent role model, reliable and dependable, upbeat and always ready to lend a helping hand. She also works with the "peer leaders" - older students who work with the eighth-graders about tolerance and bullying.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: May, 2010; Peace Corps Venezuela; Directory of Venezuela RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Venezuela RPCVs; Awards; Education; Massachusetts

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