(Left to right: Joe Fatheree with Superintendent Mark Doan.)
Effingham High School teacher Joe Fatheree was in Dubai last month for the announcement of the winner of the Global Teacher of the Year winner. Fatheree was among the top-ten finalists for the honor. At Monday’s Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education meeting Mr. Fatheree spoke to the school board about his experience in Dubai.
Fatheree talked about the work being done by the Varkey Foundation, the group that founded the Global Teacher Prize, to show the value of teachers. Fatheree also talked about having his students work with the classroom’s of teachers who were candidates for the award. Specifically, classes are working on a project to design and build cook-stoves that will be provided to a school system in Africa. Effingham High School Principal Jason Fox also talked about Fatheree’s work, and the importance of keeping creativity in the classroom and encouraging it in students.