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PATRICIA ANN BALTZ
Patricia Ann "Pann" Baltz was the co-winner of the 1993 Disney
Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award and was also the 1993 California Teacher
of the Year.
Pann plays down the fact that a history of strokes and heart
problems has left her in a wheelchair. She says it has simply changed her into a
"sit and deliver" teacher. Her students call her handi-capable and draw
inspiration from her energy, perseverance, and curriculum innovations. Pann
says, "The personal knowledge of how precious life is has made my contribution
to the lives of children a very special one."
Mrs. Baltz was a Cum Laude graduate of UCLA with a B.A. in
English and also conducted her post graduate studies there. She has been
teaching 3rd-6th grades in Arcadia, California for 23 years and over that span
has earned many outstanding achievement awards. She is the recipient of the
Honorary Service Award given by the California PTA, the Los Angeles County Self
Esteem Task Force Award, and a scholarship to International Space Camp in
Huntsville. At the prestigious American Teacher Awards, Pann was named
"Outstanding General Elementary Teacher."
Pann is a gifted speaker who has addressed many audiences
including the California State PTA convention, the Future Educators of America
annual conference, and the Los Angeles County School Psychologists annual
conference.
She is a leader in creative ideas in the use of computers in
a classroom. She was named Tech Center Mentor for the Technology Center of
Silicon Valley in 1991. Pann has started a cross-age Science Challenge project
where elementary students are challenged to solve a particular problem on a team
with a teenage "scientific consultant" from the local high school. She received
a Leader in Instructional Technology Education Grant for her ideas.
Of all her awards, she is most proud that her family was
given the Great American Family Award by her home city of Arcadia.
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