The National Alliance today issued the following statement regarding Sydney Chaffee, the first charter public school teacher to be named National Teacher of the Year:
“The National Alliance heartily congratulates Sydney Chaffee on being named National Teacher of the Year. At the Codman Academy Charter Public School in Boston, Massachusetts, Sydney has transformed her classroom into a tool for social justice, and outside of its four walls, is building community partnerships that expand her students horizons. In the decade that Sydney has taught at Codman Academy Charter Public School, she has left an enduring mark on the lives of her students and colleagues.
“Sydney Chaffee is the first charter public school teacher to win this prestigious award. In recognizing this tremendous achievement, we also recognize what Sydney herself has indicated: I think that one of the reasons I was selected was not because I stand out, but because I do a lot of the things a lot of great teachers do. Charter school teachers are public school teachers, who alongside their district peers work tirelessly, day in and day out, to provide their students with a high-quality public school education. The honor given to Sydney is reflective of her innovation and dedication to her students, and all public school teachers charter and district work to grow in these best practices.”
About the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the public charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector. For more information, please visit www.publiccharters.org.
