“Teachers change our society…” is the beginning of a statement found on the certificate presented to Mrs. Glenda Bedard at the June 5, 2015, Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Award dinner. This dinner took place in the VFW Post 648 Hall in Rutland and three individuals, from the three grade levels , K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, were recognized as outstanding teachers.

Founded in 1899, Veterans of Foreign Wars is concerned with the education of America’s youth. The VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary have developed a slate of programs dedicated to this endeavor. One of these programs is identifying and recognizing America’s best educators who instill a sense of national pride in students. VFW annually recognizes these teachers who teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote America’s history, traditions and institutions effectively.

Mrs. Bedard, who teaches social studies to 4th and 5th graders at Mater Christi School in Burlington, returned from the awards ceremony more convinced than ever of the VFW’s mission of instilling in students a strong sense of America’s history and traditions. She is determined to find even more ways of supporting that mission as she looks toward the 2015-2016 school year at Mater Christi.

Sister Joanne LaFreniere, RSM
Director of Public Relations and Spiritual Life