Colony business teacher honored

PALMER -- A Colony High School teacher, Ellen Long, was awarded Business Teacher of the Year by the Alaska Association of Career and Technical Educators, a statewide organization of business and career professionals. Long has been at Colony since the school opened in 1992. Cyd Duffin, CHS principal, nominated Long for the award.

"Mrs. Long has been a teacher for nearly 30 years. Without a doubt I look to her as the leader of her department and one of the teacher leaders on our staff," Duffin wrote in her nomination letter. "She shows impeccable organization skills, excellent people skills and reliable judgment. More importantly, she's a conscientious, caring and compassionate educator who truly keeps the best interest of her students at heart."

Long teaches business and technical applications classes at Colony High. She also teaches A+ Certification, a nationally aligned curriculum that teaches PC hardware and maintenance. An A+ certificate allows students to qualify for a job in information technology upon graduation. In addition to her role as teacher, Long also serves as the advisor for Business Professionals of America, a co-curricular organization that offers students workplace assessment, teaches leadership skills and emphasizes community service.

"She's one of those teachers who can juggle many things at once, and she does it with ease," Duffin said.

Duffin said Long's specialty as a teacher is being able to individualize her instruction to meet each student at his or her level.

"She'll have seven or eight different levels [of students] in class at the same time. She's very gifted at being able to meet the unique needs of all the kids," Duffin said.