Gorham teacher, Heather Whitaker, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas. Mrs. Whitaker, an alternative teacher at Gorham Middle School, will attend a week of collaboration with the LMC staff this summer beginning June 18.

Heather was the 2020 Maine Teacher of the Year. At Gorham Middle School, she started the school garden which donates 1000 pounds of produce to the local food pantry each year. She also was a founding member of the Gorham Backpack Program which provides food for chronically hungry children and families in the community. Her middle school students volunteer in both programs.

By promoting real-life learning experiences for students coupled with the spirit of community service, Heather provides many powerful learning experiences for her students. She is a strong advocate for meeting the needs of struggling students.

While in Fort Williams, Heather will gain knowledge, educational resources, and support in helping students to cultivate a passion for learning through the creation of projects that initiate positive change. As an LMC fellow, she will be equipped to develop unsung hero projects with her students, applying and evaluating the stories of role models who have changed the world throughout history.