Hall of Fame

Induction into the Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame is the highest honor that an educator can receive from Jostens Renaissance. It recognizes the successes and achievements of the nation’s finest educators. Data and documentation along with recommendations support and validate all winners.

2022 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Terri VanderWijst
Teacher
Berkeley County Virtual School
Martinsburg, WV

What has Jostens Renaissance impacted most in your school?
Renaissance impacted attendance at both of my past schools, Musselman High and Mountain Ridge Middle School.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone starting Jostens Renaissance in their school?

Gather a team, start with one or two Renaissance ideas that have a wide reach, and add as you gain experience and success.

How has Jostens Renaissance impacted you, personally and professionally? 

Renaissance has introduced me to educators from all over that have become lifelong friends. The lessons I have learned through Renaissance educators have changed the way I view others.  I have seen the impact that can be made in a life when a person feels “seen.”  I am more observant and compassionate now and find myself intentionally looking for ways to connect with others, both at school and in the world around me.

Being a Renaissance educator has rejuvenated my love of education.  I look for the smiles on faces of those being recognized — it warms my heart and makes me want to step up my game and do more. Thanks to Renaissance, I have honed my planning and organization skills, become more confident when faced with challenges, and refined my creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

2022 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Melissa Wright
Teacher
Kennebecasis Valley High School
Quispamsis, NB

What has Jostens Renaissance impacted the most at your school?
Renaissance has made our school a more positive place to learn and work. It has helped bring the positives to the forefront empowering our school to celebrate all Staffulty and students success both in and out of school. Never doubt that the little things you do are making a huge impact!

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone starting Jostens Renaissance in their school?
Just start! When we started we chose to start with three things that our school valued, and it just built from there. Start with what you are comfortable with. Surround yourself with a great team of people that want to make a positive impact on your school. Involve the students – they have the best ideas and have a great pulse on what students like. Reach out and don’t be afraid to ask for help. The Renaissance community has some of the best educators and everyone is so supportive. Also, get as many people as you can to JRGC, including your administration! Once everyone sees it in action and the impact it can have, there will be no turning back!

How has Jostens Renaissance impacted you, personally and professionally? What role has it played in your life?

Personally, Renaissance has taught me to always look for the positives. When you choose joy, it immediately brings to the forefront the positives and the things that you appreciate. Many of the values I have learned through Renaissance I have brought into my personal life. Celebrating is a regular occurrence at our house. No matter how big or small the accomplishment we always make the time to celebrate and show gratitude. As well, Renaissance has pushed me to always do better and become the best version of myself.

Professionally, I couldn’t imagine being an educator without Renaissance. Renaissance has made me a better educator and taught me to always look for ways to connect with both Staffulty and students. The opportunities I have had and the connections that I have made because of Renaissance wouldn’t not have been possible otherwise. I am the educator I am today because of Renaissance. Our Renaissance team has taught me so much. The students on our team have made me a better educator and never cease to amaze me. Being their Renaissance advisor has allowed me the opportunity to see so many amazing students grow into leaders throughout their high school experience. As well, my co-advisor Elizabeth Folks, is always encouraging me and is my cheerleader. She continues to help me grow as a Renaissance educator and makes me better. Attending JRGC is the best professional learning I attend all year and is life changing. It has helped shape me into the educator I am today.

2022 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Meg Ward
Teacher
Stratford High School
Goose Creek, SC

What has Jostens Renaissance impacted the most at your school(s)?
Jostens Renaissance has impacted our culture and climate, and RELATIONSHIPS!!

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone starting Jostens Renaissance in their school?
Find a great TEAM of students and Staffulty, identify the needs of your school, and pick three things to start with, then start strong – and have fun!

How has Jostens Renaissance impacted you, personally and professionally? What role has it played in your life?
I attended my very first Renaissance conference in 2004 in Dallas, TX. I have never been the same. It changed me as a teacher in my classroom and it changed the way I viewed my role within my school. Renaissance ignites something inside of me that makes me want to do whatever I can to make my classroom and my school a place where students and Staffulty want to be everyday. I want to make it matter for those around me. I have also had the privilege to teach our Leadership Class for 15 years. Helping students tap into their potential and believe in themselves as student leaders has been a blessing. Renaissance has also given me a network of educators across the country who inspire me and help me be better. Renaissance educators share ideas and resources to help schools who are all working toward the same goal. We want to make our schools the best we can for our kids. Renaissance builds the climate and culture of your school –  and in the time we are in, there is nothing we need more!

Previous Hall of Fame Inductees

2019

John Bush Marshall County High School Lewisburg TN

2019

Dr. Darrin Peppard  West Grand School District Kremmling CO

2019

Dr. James Spencer Sedgefield Middle School Goose Creek SC

2018

Samantha Grimes Greenbrier High School Greenbrier TN

2018

Paul Dols Monrovia High School Monrovia CA

2018

Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder Somers Point School District Somers Point NJ

2017

Jamie Mooring Puyallup High School Puyallup WA

2017

Rhett Ladner Vancleave Middle School Vancleave MS

2017

Holly Branch Musselman High School Inwood WV

2016

Jean Ganze LaSalle-Peru Township High School LaSalle IL

2016

Sara Cowey San Mateo High School San Mateo CA

2015

Dr. Phillip Campbell Portland High School Portland TN

2014

Tina Dietrich Fountain Woods Elementary School Burlington NJ

2014

Jennifer Gates Clifton Middle School Monrovia CA

2013

Tom Nichols North Stafford High School Stafford VA

2013

Jennifer Sasai Walker Junior High School La Palma CA

2013

Doreen Schaefer Sequoya Middle School Holtsville NY

2012

Ron Ward NW Hendricks School Corp. Lizton IN

2012

Valerie Vera-Mineer Canyon Hills Junior High School Chino Hills CA

2012

Judy Gore Highland Regional High School Blackwood NJ

2011

Beverly Buffington North Hall High School Gainesville GA

2010

Dwight Carter Gahanna Lincoln High School Gahanna OH

2009

Bernard Saiz Los Lunas Schools Los Lunas NM

2009

David Sanders Boiling Springs High School Boiling Springs SC

2008

Lisa Owen Sterling High School Somerdale NJ

2008

Jennifer Duston Foothill Technology High School Ventura CA

2008

Charley Nelson Jostens Minneapolis MN

2008

Dr. Mark Petersen McDuffie County Schools Thomson GA

2007

Lisa Schreiner Logan Middle School Lacrosse WI

2007

Steven Bollar Hartford School Mount Laurel NJ

2007

Charles Gerald Moore Boiling Springs High School Boiling Springs SC

2006

Robert Smith Soddy Daisy High School Soddy Daisy TN

2006

Frank Forster Bethel High School Bethel CT

2006

JoNan Holbrook Lanier County Elementary Lakeland GA

2005

Frank Rudnesky Belhaven Middle School Linwood NJ

2005

Wayne Hironaka Grant High School Sacramento CA

2004

Judi Riley Cortland City School District Cortland NY

2004

Dr. Robert Schoewe

2004

Connie Creech

2003

Steve Morris Stephen Decatur Middle School Clinton MD

2003

Jim Fish Sherwood High School Sandy Spring MD

2003

Bob Casper Las Palmas Middle School Covina CA

2002

Denise Hitch Oakdale High School Oakdale CA

2002

Steve Woolf Tonganoxie Jr High School Tonganoxie KS

2001

Shirley Kilgore Booker T. Washington High School Atlanta GA

2001

Elizabeth James Laurel High School Laurel MD

2001

Connie Weeks Don Antonio Lugo High School Chino  CA

2001

Dale Freeman Cherokee Elementary Cedartown GA

2000

Larry Schmidt Lafayette High School Wildwood MO

2000

Marge Congress La Sierra High School Riverside CA

2000

Al Nuness Jostens

1999

Alison Olzendam Mead Middle School Mead WA

1999

Bill Cheney Ontario High School Ontario CA

1999

Keith Bell Gahanna High School Gahanna OH

1999

Dr. John McEwan Silver Lake Regional High School Kingston MA

1999

Alan Chmiel Bethel High School Bethel CT

1999

Frank Palatucci Jr. Highland Regional High School Blackwood NJ

1998

Larry Biddle

1998

Richard Parkhouse Charter Oaks High School Covina CA

1998

Thomas T. Evans Atlanta GA

1998

Vicki Dunaway Powell High School Powell TN

1998

Dr. Dan Edwards Lafayette High School Wildwood MO

1998

Tom Parizo Oxnard High School Oxnard CA

1998

Judy Cox

1998

Larry Price Wilson County Schools Wilson NC

1998

Thomas Whitman

1998

Leon Beckerman
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