The three Montgomery Blair High School teachers who guide their students’ work on the newspaper Silver Chips walked into the media center Monday prepared to lead class.
The students who write for the online, print and Spanish versions of the school newspaper sat quietly, waiting for the class to begin.
Suddenly. about a dozen people, some holding balloons and others carrying roses, entered the room and shouted for everyone’s attention. Then members of the National Education Association (NEA) handed over a huge $5,000 check to the three teachers – Michelle Elie, Jeremy Stelzner and Maria Eugenia Tanos – and told them to purchase classroom supplies.
As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, the teachers from the award-winning Silver Chips newspaper were applauded by national, state and local teachers’ associations – and just as enthusiastically – their students.
Senior Sudhish Swain, sports editor and videographer with Silver Chips, praised Elie for “her commitment,” adding, “She is very charismatic. She is very approachable.”
Elie seemed overwhelming, stating, “The students really give back. You are the reason we love what we do.”
