Missouri Teachers Named to Curriculum Associates' 2023 Class of Extraordinary Educatorstm

Steven Spoljaric of Bayless Junior High in Bayless and Amanda Staton of Dixon Elementary in Dixon receive national recognition for their best-in-class teaching and use of educational programs 

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Jan. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates has named Steven Spoljaric of Bayless Junior High in Bayless, MO and Amanda Staton of Dixon Elementary in Dixon, MO to its 2023 class of Extraordinary Educators, an annual program that celebrates and connects exemplar teachers in Grades K?8 from around the country. Chosen from hundreds of nominations, Spoljaric and Staton are among 30 educators from 22 states selected for exhibiting best-in-class use of i-Ready^®, i-Ready Classroom Mathematics, and/or Ready^®, illustrating growth and achievement via formal assessments, demonstrating innovation and engagement practices for students, being evangelists for high expectations and student achievement, championing equity, and having taught for at least two years.

"Teachers are true rockstars," said Emily McCann, vice president of educator community at Curriculum Associates. "This year's Extraordinary Educators are no exception?they were chosen from hundreds of nominations and represent the best of the best. We are happy to recognize and celebrate Steven and Amanda for their amazing work in the classroom and look forward to providing them with ongoing professional learning and networking opportunities to help them continue to grow their craft."

With nearly 340 years of combined teaching experience, this year's class of Extraordinary Educators includes classroom teachers, special education teachers, and instructional specialists. All of the educators were ultimately selected by an advisory board featuring leaders from Curriculum Associates, previously inducted Extraordinary Educators, and a college student pursuing a degree in urban education.

The Extraordinary Educators will have continued access to a network of peers from around the country to collaborate, connect, and learn from throughout the year as well as access to professional development opportunities from Curriculum Associates. They will also be invited to participate and present at the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit and other professional learning events.

"This honor is special to me because it validates all the hard work my students have put in and the challenges they have overcome," said Spoljaric. "I am excited for this recognition as an Extraordinary Educator because this means I have extraordinary students with whom I have had the pleasure to work and learn alongside. Also, I'm excited to make connections with successful teachers from all over the country to improve myself to better set my students up for success."

"Becoming a member of the 2023 Extraordinary Educators class is a great way to gain a network of peers that are excelling in their education careers," said Staton. "This program is an incredible opportunity to network, gain invaluable PD, and overall be recognized for what I do every day in the classroom. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a member of the class of 2023 and share my experiences and wins with other educators."

This is the fourth year of the Extraordinary Educators program. This year's class joins 110 additional educators from across the country in receiving this recognition.

Today, Curriculum Associates' programs are used in half of all school districts in Missouri.

To learn more about Curriculum Associates and the 2023 Extraordinary Educators, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/Extraordinary-Educators/Classes.

Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.

SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC