Teacher of the Year - 2009
Francis L. Payne
On 16 December 2009, Mr. Francis L. Payne received the SAR Good Citizenship Bronze Medal Award for being designated the Fairfax Resolves SAR Chapter Teacher of the Year for 2009. Mr. Payne received the award in his classroom where faculty and students were on-hand to hear the high praise of his efforts read by Fairfax Resolves Chapter Teacher of the Year Committee Chairman, Donald Cooper, PhD.
Mr. Payne's efforts to raise the goals and aspirations of many of his economically and socially disadvantaged students are truly extraordinary. He devotes as much as 12 hours a day and for hours on weekends to tutor and generally assist students in their study efforts. As a first-rate U.S. History and Government teacher and leader of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program he has leveraged the capabilities of a core of similarly dedicated teachers and administrators to assist Falls Church High School students. Key to the AVID Program is students achieving success by being empowered with organizational tools, study strategies, subject matter assistance, and dedicated devoted leadership from teahers like Mr. Payne who treats students as adults inculcating a sense of self-worth and adoption of achievable goals with students accepting responsibility for their own success reinforced by the positive leadership and genuine mentoring of faculty members like Mr. Payne.
Mr. Payne epitomizes an extraordinarily dedicated educator and his recognition by the Fairfax Resolves SAR Chapter is consistent with the highest ideals of the Teacher of the Year Award.
In the attached photo, Fairfax Resolves Chapter President, John E. Sweeney, presents Mr. Payne with a professionaly framed Bronze Citizenship Medal certificate and mounted medal.