Arch Insights
Hamilton Named Arch Coal Teacher
Achievement Award Recipient
PRICE,
Utah (May 8, 2008) – While there are many
motivations in the teaching profession, Connie
Hamilton, who has taught for 36 years, says her
greatest is “that I care for all children and
want to see them succeed.”
The sixth grade teacher at Castle Heights
Elementary in Price is committed to showing her
students that she not only has a vested interest
in their education, but that she strives to show
them that she cares about them on a personal
level.
“I not only care about my students as the people
they are now, but also as the people they will
become,” she notes.
Today, Hamilton was honored for her special
efforts with her students, as she is one of only
five Utah teachers to be named a 2008 Arch Coal
Teacher Achievement Award recipient.
Announcement of the award was made at a ceremony
at Castle Heights Elementary School by Erwin
Sass, general manager of Dugout Canyon mine.
Sass was joined by Jim Porter, High Desert
UniServ director for the Utah Education
Association.
“Connie Hamilton is devoted to her students,”
says Sass. “She provides the teaching and
personal support necessary for her students’
academic and social success.”
“Teaching is far more than simply conveying the
required curriculum to the students,” states
Hamilton. “Teachers must inspire students to
learn and to be good citizens. My role is to
guide student discovery.”
Hamilton believes students learn by doing, so
she has many hands-on activities in her
classroom. She also believes that her students
must learn to effectively work in a
collaborative environment, so she often seats
her students in groups of four so they can
assist, mentor and coach one another.
Says colleague Kristen Taylor, Hamilton is
“passionate about her work. She goes to work
every day and loves being there. Students
instinctively feel her passion and respond with
enthusiasm.”
Hamilton holds an associate degree from the
College of Eastern Utah, a bachelor of science
Degree from Utah State University, and 55 hours
of post graduate studies from Utah State
University and Southern Utah University. In
addition, she has received more than 600 hours
of recertification credits, has served at the
district level as a math site trainer, a
Qualitative Reading Instruction trainer and a
peer tutoring trainer. She has been a
supervising teacher for the Utah State
University Student Teacher Program, on the Utah
State Office of Education Gifted & Talented
Advisory Council, and, for the past 15 years,
been an advisor to her school’s student
government. Hamilton has been Utah ARTS Educator
of the Year, named Outstanding Teacher in
District 70 by the Utah legislature, recipient
of the College of Eastern Utah’s Outstanding
Alumnae Award, and Carbon County School
District’s Teacher of the Year.
Hamilton feels her greatest contribution to her
students has been creation of The Gallery of Sir
Lear A Lot, a museum at Castle Heights
Elementary. Hamilton raised $16,500 for the
project and donated hundreds of hours to the
project’s construction. The museum consists of
five galleries that showcase students’ art work,
literature and dimensional pieces. She also has
been active in community efforts to raise funds
for numerous projects and concerns, such as for
victims of Hurricane Katrina and the September
11 terrorist attack in New York City, as well
for local efforts, such as The Christmas Tree
Regalia.
In addition to recognition, award recipients
receive a personal, $2,500 unrestricted cash
prize, a distinctive trophy and a classroom
plaque. Nominations of the teachers are made by
the public and selection is made by a
blue-ribbon panel of the teachers’ peers.
This is the second year the Arch Coal Foundation
has sponsored the teacher recognition program in
Carbon, Emery, Sanpete and Sevier counties.
Supporters of the program include the Office of
Governor Jon Huntsman, Utah State Office of
Education, Utah Education Association, Utah
School Superintendents Association, Carbon
County School District, Emery County School
District, Sevier County School District, North
Sanpete School District, South Sanpete School
District, Far West Bank, Market Express, radio
stations KMTI, KLGL, KMGR, KSVC, KCYQ, KOAL,
KARB, KRPX, and both TacoTime and Bookcliff
Sales in Price.
The counties surround the Dugout Canyon, Skyline
and Sufco coal mines owned by Arch Coal, Inc.,
one of the nation’s largest coal producers.
Through its national network of mines, the
company provides the fuel for approximately 6
percent of the electricity generated in the
United States.
Arch Coal is Utah’s largest coal producer and a
large, state employer with a workforce of
approximately 800. The company is listed on the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and
maintains its corporate headquarters in St.
Louis, Mo.