BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
The Walt Disney Co. has chosen a Freehold Regional High School District teacher as one of 45 finalists for successful, creative, innovative classroom teaching and student inspiration.
Lt. Col. James Sfayer, the Navy Junior ROTC instructor at Colts Neck High School, has been selected from more than 50,000 nominees for the 2005 National Disney Teacher Honoree Award.
“Disney was founded on creativity, and we feel it is vital in helping children learn in ways that both engage and challenge them,” said Terry Wick, vice president of Disney Worldwide Outreach. “Creative teachers like Lt. Col. Sfayer open up new worlds to students through their creativity and passion for learning.”
As one of 45 Disney Teacher Honorees, Sfayer will receive $10,000 from The Walt Disney Co. and a trip to Disneyland in California from July 23-28.
In addition, Disney will award $5,000 to Colts Neck High School.
Disney Teacher Honorees are selected by their peers, former Disney Teacher Honorees and representatives of educational associations from across the United States. Honorees come from every subject field and every level of teaching. Sfayer is one of three honorees being recognized for Applied Fields education.
Sfayer was named instructor of the year at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., and ended his military career as deputy director of the Marine Corps Institute. Now he uses that same aptitude for instruction to help students who attend the ROTC program at Colts Neck.
“Being a teacher is only one role that we fill, and it’s too narrow a term for what teachers actually do,” he said. “I teach leadership and I do it by being more than just a teacher. I’m a mentor who they know they can always go to. I’m a coach. Most importantly, I’m a role model.”
In addition to the academic and athletic aspects of Junior ROTC, Sfayer teaches a variety of lessons that connect his students with the world around them and the history of the armed forces. These lessons include Operation Enduring Appreciation, where students send letters and packages to soldiers who are serving overseas; the Greatest Generation Meets the Future Generation, where Sfayer’s students meet and speak with veterans; and a 60th anniversary celebration of the World War II battle of Iwo Jima.
“We honor our heroes, educate the public and inspire our youth about the price of freedom,” he said.
The Disney Teacher Awards were established in 1989.
In addition to the monetary awards for Sfayer and his school, Disney will fly Sfayer and Principal, R. Wayne McChesney to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in October for a six-day professional development institute where they can refine their own innovative teaching approaches by sharing ideas and learn how to engage other teachers to build an effective collaborative teaching culture at their school.
“Lt. Col. Sfayer teaches from the heart,” said Dan Westendorf, a senior at Colts Neck High School. “He teaches by example. To him, living and teaching this way is second nature. He always says that the corps of cadets is an extension of his own family. For three years I have been a witness to that, whether [he was] buying groceries with his own money for a family in need or supporting a student who [couldn’t] find that kind of caring elsewhere in their lives. Lt. Col. Sfayer is devoted to his cause.”
During the week of special events and celebration in Anaheim, Calif., from July 23-28, five exceptional teachers will be chosen from the 45 honorees. Four Outstanding Teachers and one Disney Teacher of the Year will receive an additional $15,000 from Disney.
Nominations for the 2006 Disney Teacher Awards will be open in mid-August.
For more information on the awards process, visit www.disneyhand.com.
“These Junior ROTC programs are out there largely unnoticed and are the single biggest character development programs in the United States,” Sfayer said. “About half a million kids are learning character from soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who continue to serve long after they’ve left the military. I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to influence kids in a positive way and continue to make a contribution to the country.”
The Disney Teacher Awards are part of DisneyHand, worldwide outreach for the Walt Disney Co. DisneyHand is dedicated to making the dreams of families and children a reality through public service initiatives, community outreach and volunteerism in the areas of compassion, learning, the arts and the environment.