Standing tall among her peers

A Tampa teacher is awarded $25,000 for her inspiring and exemplary performance.

		[Times photo: Thomas M. Goethe]
		Mary Louise Thoreen, who teaches eighth-grade math at Wilson Middle School, was one of three Florida educators to be presented the Milken National Educator Award. Students and staff gathered in the school's auditorium as the state's education commissioner presented the award.

TAMPA - Monday started out ordinary for Mary Louise Thoreen, but it turned into the kind of day that most of us only dream about.

Thoreen was teaching geometry to eighth graders at Wilson Middle School, getting ready for a mysterious afternoon assembly. No one really knew what it was about, although rumors were flying.

Students and teachers marched into the school's auditorium to listen to dignitaries talk about education. State Education Commissioner Jim Horne asked the students the best way to celebrate teachers.

One girl answered, "Do our work and listen." Another student yelled, "Pay them more money."

The audience applauded and cheered.

Horne told the school he was there to do just that. He was there to give $25,000 from the Milken Family Foundation to some lucky teacher, the only one in the Tampa Bay area.

"I want a serious drum roll, please," Horne said.

When he read Thoreen's name, her mouth flew open.

"Oh my God," she said as she walked to the stage. "That's as much money as I made my first year teaching."

The foundation recognizes teachers with exceptional teaching talent, leadership potential and inspiring personalities.

Since 1985, the California-based foundation has traveled the nation, handing out nearly$50-million in surprise awards aimed at advancing teaching. The foundation was started in 1982 by multimillionaire financier Lowell Milken and his brother Michael, a former junk bond dealer.

The foundation is awarding 100 gifts to teachers and principals nationwide this year, including one in Jacksonville and another in Miami.

The selection of teachers is a confidential process and is based on a list of finalists forwarded to the foundation by state education officials and school districts.

Thoreen's positive attitude and relationship with her students stood out among the applicants. "She's very inspiring," said Lewis Solmon, the foundation's executive vice president.

Thoreen exudes a love of education day in and day out, said Wilson principal Stephanie Woodford. Whenever Thoreen comes up with a new idea, she often invites Woodford to visit the classroom.

"She's top-notch," Woodford said.

Thoreen's students say she deserves the award because she makes their classes fun and interesting. She bakes them brownies after they show improvement and she lets them work together in groups.

"She doesn't yell or anything," said Ellie Kriseman, 13. "She explains everything."

"If you need help, she'll do the problem 10 times," said classmate Catherine Phaneuf.

Teaching is Thoreen's third career. With a bachelor's degree in math and a master's in higher education, she worked in student activities for seven years at several colleges. For the next five years she was a consultant who matched client personalities to careers.

At her mother's retirement party as a school library aide, it dawned on her that education was her life's calling.

"I knew when I reached the end of my life, I wanted to have done something to make a difference," said Thoreen, 44. "I knew I could do that through teaching."

From Day 1 at Sligh Middle School to now, her 10th year as a teacher, Thoreen said she has never regretted her career move. She is a national board certified teacher who was a finalist for the Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year award in 2002.

Thoreen is unsure how she'll spend the $25,000, more than half her $37,000 annual salary.

It will come in handy since her husband, Jim Young, recently took a pay cut as a bassist with the financially strapped Florida Orchestra. Perhaps she'll use the money to travel or pay her father back for a recent trip to Paris.

More than anything, Thoreen said the award gives her a new feeling of energy toward the teaching profession.

"I love this job," she said. "Not a day has gone by that I have not loved what I do."

- Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Melanie Ave can be reached at 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com

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