Jessica Schelegle of Sacred Heart School, Saratoga, CA Presented With $10,000 for Her School, 2009 All-Star Teacher Announced During Giants Pregame Live Show
Each All-Star Teacher Award Runner-Up to Receive $2,000 for Their School
Comcast California and Comcast SportsNet today announced that Jessica Schelegle of Sacred Heart School in Saratoga, CA is the winner of the 2009 All-Star Teacher Award and has been presented a $10,000 check for her school. Jack O’Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Steve White, Regional Senior Vice President, Comcast California; Ted Griggs, Vice President and General Manager, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area; and San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson presented Schelegle the $10,000 check during today’s Comcast SportsNet telecast of Giants Pregame Live, prior to the San Francisco Giants/San Diego Padres game from AT&T Park. Schelegle also threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
The All-Star Teacher Award was created to recognize middle and high school teachers in Northern California who go above and beyond to inspire their students and community. An esteemed panel of community leaders selected five finalists based on four categories: Overall Commitment, Excellence in Teaching, Rapport with Students, and Level of Distinction. The five finalists were Jessica Schelegle of Sacred Heart School (Saratoga, CA); Robert Black of St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School (Vallejo, CA); Jeremiah Ellison of Independence High School (San Jose, CA); Emily Orologio of Frick Middle School (Oakland, CA); and Susan Piekarski of Irvington High School (Fremont, CA). Each All-Star Teacher Award runner-up will receive $2,000 for their school.
Members of the public voted for the All-Star Teacher finalists from May 18 to July 8 by voting online at www.csnbayarea.com and by filling out official ballot forms in the San Francisco Chronicle.
"We would like to congratulate Jessica Schelegle of Sacred Heart School in Saratoga, California for her well deserved achievement of winning the prestigious 2009 All-Star Teacher title,” said State Superintendent O'Connell. “Mrs. Schelegle exemplifies the commitment, loyalty, and service of the thousands of dedicated and skilled teachers in California who make a difference in their schools and communities, and especially in the lives of their students. We would also like to celebrate the other finalists and all the award nominees and thank them for their tireless efforts to inspire their students every day.”
“Education is key to the future of our children, our communities and our workforce,” said White. “At Comcast, we are committed to investing in our children through scholarships, educational tools, and by honoring those individuals, like Jessica Schelegle and the other finalists, who make a difference to improve our educational systems and ensure that students have the foundation necessary to succeed in school and beyond.”
“Comcast SportsNet and our partners are honored to name Jessica Schelegle the 2009 All-Star Teacherand to present her a $10,000 check for Sacred Heart School,” said Griggs. “Mrs. Schelegle has demonstrated tireless dedication and loyalty to her school and community, and thanks to her commitment she has been able to help shape the lives of her young students. We would also like to recognize and thank the other four finalists and all the award nominees for their contributions in their classrooms and in their communities.”
Jessica Schelegle teaches 7th grade reading, writing, spelling, and religion at Sacred Heart School in Saratoga, CA. Mrs. Schelegle feels it is her mission to help her students see themselves as empowered individuals who will eventually become part of the larger community. This past school year, Mrs. Schelegle developed her “212 degrees of effort” theme, which holds her students to her high expectations and encourages every student to make a difference by giving just a little bit more to every assignment. She also sends a strong message to her students, organizing her classroom well and teaching efficiently, thus demonstrating her own adoption of the high standards to which she holds her students.
Mrs. Schelegle has gained the trust and confidence of her students by communicating with them in a very straightforward manner and by valuing their opinions. She has also taught her students how important impressions are, and she has made it clear why obtaining a quality education will get a person further in life than not getting such an education.
Mrs. Schelegle recently ran in a marathon in Florida, raising funds for charity. She told her students about her training so they would understand the effort required to participate in worthy causes. Mrs. Schelegle is not only an inspiring teacher; she is a role model for those interested in working to help less fortunate people.
The elite panel of community leaders that selected the finalists consisted of Doug Bartlett, Senior Marketing Director, BART; Rob Jaynes, Director of Fan Development/The Sharks Foundation, San Jose Sharks; Detra Paige, Director of Community Relations, Oakland Athletics; and Sue Petersen, Executive Director of the Giants Community Fund, San Francisco Giants.
Last February, Comcast SportsNet sent All-Star Teacher nomination forms to over 200 middle and high schools in Northern and Central California. Nominations for the 2009 All-Star Teacher Award were received from students, parents, principals, and teachers throughout the regions.
In 2007, Michael Meneses of Presidio Middle School in San Francisco, CA was the inaugural All-Star Teacher Award recipient. Last year, Allen Nakamura of Alameda High School in Alameda, CA was named the 2008 All-Star Teacher.
The All-Star Teacher Award is sponsored by Comcast SportsNet, Comcast California, KNBR 680 AM, and the San Francisco Chronicle.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 24.1 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 6.8 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
Comcast’s California Region, based in Livermore, California, serves more than 2.4 million customers in Northern and Central California.Comcast employs more than 7,500 local residents across the region.
About Comcast SportsNet
Comcast Sports Group operates 10 sports networks that cover more than 2,400 live sporting events annually and deliver comprehensive sports news and analysis to 40 million cable and satellite homes.Comcast Sports Group’s networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, SNY, The Mtn. - Mountain West Sports Network, and CSS.These networks provide live game coverage of 18 professional teams, as well as college, minor league and other sports.For more information, see ComcastSportsNet.com.
Contacts:
Comcast SportsNet
Jay dela Cruz, 415-296-8900
jdelacruz@comcastsportsnet.com