Shoreline Teacher of the Year named

Principal Bill Dunbar, Vicki Gorman, and Superintendent Sue Walker.

Vicki Gorman, who has taught physical education at Shorewood High School since its opening in 1975, has been selected as the 2014 Shoreline Teacher of the Year.

She will be honored at a reception on Monday, May 12 at 6pm in the Shoreline Center lobby prior to the School Board meeting that evening. The community is invited. The District will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week from May 12 to 16 in honor of all certificated staff.

“Vicki is the heart and soul of Shorewood High School,” wrote her colleague in nominating her for the award. “Her dedication and commitment to our school is unparalleled.”

Vicki is head of the PE department, the cheer coach and the athletic director at Shorewood.

“Vicki is an exemplary teacher,” said Shorewood Principal Bill Dunbar. “When people say ‘Shorewood,’ they think of Vicki Gorman. She is the foundation of an excellent staff, and has led her department to consistently adapt and evolve the PE program with high standards for physical activity, skill development, fitness and growth. She is a person of the highest character who sets high standards and guides our young people in developing their character.

In 2008, Vicki was one of the first physical education teachers in the State of Washington to become a National Board Certified Teacher. She has since become a mentor to many other teachers wishing to obtain their own National Board Certification and become a scorer for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

Vicki is a University of Washington graduate and did her student teaching at Shoreline High School. After two years teaching in Kirkland, she joined the first staff at Shorewood when the school opened in 1975 and has been at the school ever since.

She is the athletic director and cheer coach at the school and attends a multitude of Shorewood events each year in support of all the T-Bird teams.

“Mrs. Gorman is my role model,” wrote one of the cheer captains in supporting her nomination. “She is one of the kindest, most genuine women I have ever met. She has truly changed me for the better by encouraging me to be my best self and by teaching me to be an effective leader. I am so happy to have her in my life and lucky to have met such an inspirational woman.”

The Shoreline Teacher of the Year is selected annually by a committee of certificated staff, administrators, parents and the public information officer from nominations received from around the District. The Teacher of the Year receives a professional development grant from the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation and is forwarded for Washington State Teacher of the Year consideration.