LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A local high school surprised one of its educators with the ‘Nevada Teacher of the Year’ award.
Mike Patterson is a math teacher at Advanced Technologies Academy.
Teachers at the school gathered for what he thought was a department-wide celebration. Patterson knew he was part of an application process and that something like this might happen, but he couldn’t imagine he would win the award.
Patterson credits this award to other school educators who he feels work together to help students learn.
He’s been teaching at the school for 20 years where he says it feels like home.
“What I can tell you to my young friends in front of me you want to find what I found, which is a way to go to work and never really feel like it’s work” shared Patterson. “To go to a place every day that is more rewarding for me than for you probably,”
As Nevada teacher of the year, he will have the opportunity to influence policy on the state level.
The newly awarded Teacher of the Year hopes to be a voice for other educators who struggle to stay in this career long-term and wants to recognize those teachers for their work.
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