Local Teacher Receives Outstanding Reading Teacher Award

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Jan. 27, 2012) – The Colorado Council International Reading Association (CCIRA) recently selected Sarah Iversen, 4th grade teacher at Landmark Academy at Reunion in Commerce City, as the winner of the Past Presidents’ Memorial Award for Outstanding Reading Teacher. CCIRA annually presents the award to a teacher who has achieved a significant and successful reading program in his/her first five years of teaching.

“It is obvious Sarah has a passion for teaching reading,” said Suzanne Schwartz, academic dean at Landmark Academy. “For a teacher who is new to her craft, she has a good knowledge base of reading strategies and understanding of the need to differentiate her instruction to meet the needs of her students.”

Not only does Iversen have a passion for reading, she is transforming the way Landmark Academy teaches the subject. In just three years, Iversen built her program by combining other teaching models that have a proven track record for success. Now, she is helping to implement the program in all 4th grade classrooms at Landmark Academy.

“Because of Sarah’s determination to learn more, energy to make changes, and willingness to share, we are able to better educate more children in reading and instill skills that will last them a lifetime,” said Christina Ziccardi, 4th grade teacher at Landmark Academy.

“Sarah makes kids who hate reading love to read. This is one of the hardest things to do as a teacher and she’s been successful year after year,” she added.

Iversen will be presented with the award at the CCIRA annual conference in February.

About Landmark Academy at Reunion

Founded in 2007, Landmark Academy at Reunion is a public charter school managed by National Heritage Academies and serves more than 600 students in grades K-8. For more information, visit www.landmarkacademy.org.

About National Heritage Academies

National Heritage Academies (NHA) partners with community groups to build and operate K-8 tuition-free public charter schools. NHA partners with 71 schools in nine states serving more than 44,000 students. NHA schools are designed to eliminate the achievement gap and provide school choice to families while preparing children for success in high school, college, and beyond. For more information about National Heritage Academies visit www.nhaschools.com.