The Presidential Award affirms the importance of networking, mentoring, and collaborating among professional colleagues in my school, district, and state while providing new opportunities for networking and collaborating with professionals nationwide. This will allow my teaching ability to grow further, which will benefit children in my school, district, and state. The possibility of meeting Barack or Michelle Obama would be a plus.

Jo Anne Deshon Newark, DE | K-6, Science, 2008

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Jo Anne Deshon teaches third grade at John R. Downes Elementary School, where she began her career in 1975. In the interim, she has also taught at other elementary schools and twice been an instructor of elementary curriculum at the University of Delaware. Dr. Deshon has worked with science professors in the university's department of education, presented at regional and national science conferences, and written several grants and programs for improving science education. Dr. Deshon is recognized for the discoveries that occur in her inquiry-based lessons. Her achievements include using technology to allow students to videoconference with peers in other schools, seamlessly integrating science with mathematics and language arts, and encouraging students to incorporate conceptual issues as they discuss investigations. A university professor has brought pre-service elementary school teachers to observe Dr. Deshon's classes as a model of how to modify instruction to students' developing understandings. Recalling the interest and fun generated by investigations in Dr. Deshon's class, one former student said that Dr. Deshon was one of her most influential teachers. Dr. Deshon's professional service activities include mentoring student teachers, methods students, new teachers, teachers in the Delaware Writing Project, and candidates for National Board Certification. She served as Grade-Level Chair, as English/Language Arts Chair, and on the Downes Site Council. She is also a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council-Accreditation Panel and is a classroom teacher representative for the Governor's Task Force on School Libraries. Several of her past activities focused on the Delaware State Testing Program. Dr. Deshon has received many honors and awards for excellence in teaching, including the 1999 John R. Downes Elementary School and Christina School District Teacher of the Year award and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2005 American Star of Teaching award, in addition to being a 2006 State finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Dr. Deshon has a B.S. in elementary education from Millersville State College and an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Delaware. She is a National Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist and holds a Delaware Standard Certificate to teach first through eighth grade.

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