As you might all know, part of the reason why the lottery exists in different states is because they are set up to fetch funds for very noble causes that run deep and are of utmost importance such as education.  So it should not come as a surprise that the Virginia Lottery has an award called the Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award. Lottery checker

Jeffrey Weigel, 8th grade chemistry, physics and engineering teacher at Eaton Middle School has been selected as one of eight educators statewide to receive the 2012 Virginia Lottery Super Teacher Award.

This award, sponsored by the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia PTA and Virginia-based The Supply Room Companies, consists of a cash prize of $2,000 and an additional $2,000 classroom credit from The Supply Room Companies. All eight winning Super Teacher schools will also receive a dynamic Science Museum of Virginia educational experience to be fulfilled during the 2012-2013 school year.

The Lottery received almost 1,200 Super Teacher nominations across the state and more than 190 in the Lottery’s Norfolk sales area. Jeffrey Weigel is the seventh of eight public school teachers to receive the Super Teacher Award for 2012.

Lora Howerton, another teacher at Eaton, nominated Jeffrey Weigel because he “wants to impart his passion of Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering onto the next generation of scientists in our school.” In her nomination essay, Howerton also praises his innovation and creativity. She wrote, “He continually works closely with the Virginia Air and Space Center bringing interactive physical science demonstrations to his lessons. Also, Mr. Weigel has worked with NASA to produce and implement satellite data lesson plans where his students analyze actual NASA data.”

Jeffery was given his award at a surprise presentation at the school with the presence of students, faculty and special guests.  There will be another surprise presentation during spring this year, each winner represents one of the eight geographic regions of the state.

To be a teacher is not easy nowadays, times have changed, the minds of students have changed. The qualities which the panel of judges selected eight winners according to the nominations and also the qualities that the nominated teacher represents and exemplifies.  There are a couple of areas that were taken into account such as the teacher´s passion for his profession, and his commitment.  Then it was definitely taken into account the way he innovated and was creative inside the classroom for today the way teachers make their points across is very different and needs to be incredibly dynamic.  And last but never least was the parental involvement that he.