September 21, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 Ridgewood Ridge School’s Donna Pederson wins Ashby Award by John Koster Donna Pederson has won the Ridgewood School District’s 2011 Ashby Award for her many years of teaching first grade at Ridge School and for volunteering to help with other projects in the district, the village, and around the globe. “She is the epitome of teaching excellence,” one teacher wrote in an anonymous nomination. “She truly loves each child who walks through her door and passionately and relentlessly brings out the best in each student; no challenge is too daunting.” “Her classroom is warm and inviting and her terrific sense of humor carries over into her teaching,” another colleague wrote. Pederson earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and rehabilitation from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and followed up with a master’s degree in special education at C.W. Post College in Rockland County, New York. She started her teaching career in the first grade at the Ridge School and has been there ever since -- to the delight of her students and the satisfaction of their parents. “Anyone who has worked with her will tell you she’s the best of the best,” said another colleague. “I have so much respect for her as an educator and for her gentle spirit with people.” “She is one of the most gifted teachers I’ve had the privilege to observe,” an administrator wrote. “I love vis- iting her classroom. She is completely committed to each student and will do everything possible to make sure they leave her class in June as proficient readers and writers.... she completely updates and renews her teaching based on what she learns through professional development, her colleagues, and new district initiatives. She is not a teacher who thinks she knows it all -- even though she pretty much does -- and has seen it all -- she’s getting there! She’s on a continual quest for finding the best way to teach and she does it with so much love, energy, passion, and enthusiasm. I’ve never heard a parent of a child say anything negative, only that they all want her as their teacher. She’s a teaching superstar!” While Pederson is a mainstay and honored teacher at the Ridge School, her activities extend into the district, the community, and the world. She has served on a number of school planning and curriculum development committees, she is a regular volunteer at fundraising and charity (continued on page 8) Ashby Award winner Donna Pedersen with Ridgewood Superintendent Dan Fishbein.