Humphreys Elementary School teacher lands major honor

By Rakendra MooreJune 7, 2012

usa image
Humphreys Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Amira Ammari
(left) receives the Teacher of the Year award for Korea from the Veterans of
Foreign Wars during a ceremony at the school June 6. Stopping by to offer
his congratulations is Command Sgt. M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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CAMP HUMPHREYS - The Veterans of Foreign Wars has honored a Humphreys Elementary School teacher with its Teacher of the Year award for Korea.

Amira Ammari, who teaches a Kindergarten class of 22 students, received the award during a ceremony at the school on June 6. She had previously won the post-level Teacher of the Year award, making her eligible for the Korea-wide honor.

"I feel really honored and really happy," she said. "I try to instill confidence, self-esteem and positive energy. I love what I do. I was an English as a Second Language learner, so I had teachers who were always influencing me to learn and grow more, so I always wanted to be a teacher when I grew up."

Now she has a chance to pass that same influence onto her students. And she's doing just that, noted Alisson Morgan, a mother of one her students.

"They are always doing something positive here and she has a way of getting them to learn. It was nice that she was recognized," Morgan said.

Persons nominated teachers for the award by submitting an essay of 350 words or less. Criteria for selecting this year's winner included creative teaching methods, resource development and a positive impact on students.

"It's a national program run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Order to recognize outstanding teachers," said Staff Sgt. Jason Medlock, Junior Vice of the Camp Humphreys VFW Post 10223. "This is the first time Camp Humphreys has had a nomination for teacher of the year. It's really great to see her win."

VFW annually recognizes the nation's top teachers who teach citizenship education topics and promote U.S. history and traditions, Medlock added.

Ammari stressed the award is a reflection on all of United States Army Garrison Humphreys, not just one teacher.

"I want to thank the parents and the community for their support," she said. "This was the result of collaboration and working together."

Related Links:

United States Army Garrison Humphreys website

United States Army Garrison Humphreys on Facebook

United States Army Garrison Humphreys on Flickr

@ROKreport: Korea news summary

United States Army Garrison Humphreys on Twitter

United States Army Garrison Humphreys on YouTube