Schools

Bowditch Teacher Amongst Five Finalists for Comcast SportsNet All-Star Teacher Award

Comcast SportsNet and Provident Credit Union to Donate $20,000 to the winning teacher's school.

Bowditch Middle School teacher Ken Klieman has been named one of five finalists for the 2011 Comcast SportsNet 2011 All-Star Teacher Award. 

The All-Star Teacher Award recognizes middle and high school teachers in Northern and Central California for their extraordinary dedication to their students and significant presence within their respective communities, according to the organizers.

Klieman teaches seventh grade Social Studies and English Language Arts at Bowditch. Outside the classroom, he helps prevent violence on campus with Bowditch's Solution Teams and is involved with the schools Rotarian Interact Club.

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"Klieman has a unique way of getting to know students, which [include] having them fill out a biography page, and then later in the first week of school calling students’ parents to learn about their families. This allows for a stronger bond with his students’ families, creating a respectful and trusting environment," Comcast SportsNet spokesman Jay dela Cruz said.

Bowditch Middle School’s Rotarian Interact Club includes 150 students and five teachers at Bowditch Middle and San Mateo High School. The group works on projects to benefit U.S. soldiers in the Middle East, homeless students and the Shelter Network. Bowditch is the first Bay Area middle school to have this club on campus and one of only a few Rotarian Interact Clubs in the country.

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Mr. Klieman's teaching strategies center around higher-level thinking and developing meaningful relationships," dela Cruz said. "These concepts provide a better opportunity for success during school and after the final bell rings. This amazing initiative by Mr. Klieman has led to Bowditch Middle School’s Rotarian Interact Club."

Earlier this year, .

"Mr. Klieman’s collaborative approach to teaching the whole child is paramount in his dedication to communication with his students and their families. He feels that this connection makes a critical difference in the success of each child. His collaborative approach with staff promotes a positive and respectful learning environment," Bowditch Principal Judy Ross said at the time.

The other finalists are Robert “Corky” Black of Oak Grove High School in San Jose, Stefanie Blanco of James Lick High School in San Jose, Victor Doan of San Leandro High School and Tony Manno of Alameda High School. Finalists were selected by a panel of community leaders based on four categories:  Overall Commitment, Excellence in Teaching, Rapport with Students and Level of Distinction.

The winning teacher will be announced Sunday, June 12 at an on-field ceremony prior to the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds game at AT&T Park and live during Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s telecast of Giants Pregame Live. Comcast SportsNet and Provident Credit Union will award $20,000 to the winning teacher’s school.

Online voting will continue through June 5 at www.CSNBayArea.com and www.CSNCalifornia.com. For more information, visit the All-Star Teacher Award page on Facebook at facebook.com/csnallstarteacher.


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