Published: February 22, 2009 12:09 am      

Johnstown native earns teaching award

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — As third-grade teacher Tony Jardina walked toward the gymnasium, the 30-year veteran teacher was in the majority of people who had no idea why a crowd of about 650 was assembling there.

It never crossed his mind that they had come to join in a celebration of teaching excellence planned just for him.

After the Johnstown native was called forward Feb. 4 and presented with a regional Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year award, a $100 gift card to buy supplies for his class and a $1,000 grant for Cambridge Springs Elementary School, he was momentarily speechless.

Jardina is the first Penncrest School District teacher to earn the honor, officials at the Crawford County district said.

He now is one of a small pool of educators to be considered for Wal-Mart’s statewide honor.

“I am truly humbled,” Jardina said, and then apologized for “all of the emotion.”

Fighting back the tears, he thanked the children and said, “every teacher dreams about being the best of the best.”

Patti Fiely, the school principal, read excerpts from the unsigned nomination letter in which an anonymous third-grader said Jardina was “amazing” because he entertained students with educational games and even held class field trips to his bluebird farm. She asked how many of the 610 pupils present had visited his farm, and nearly every one raised a hand.

Keith Eberle, co-manager of the Edinboro Wal-Mart, and Sonja Nekoloff, the store’s community involvement coordinator, presented the award. Each store recognizes one teacher in its area as a way of demonstrating its commitment to education, Eberle said.

“Kids take pride when they see their teacher being recognized,” Eberle said. “It also inspires other teachers to work harder in the hopes that they, too, will be rewarded someday.”

Jardina said years ago he was nominated by seniors at Cambridge Springs High School as “the teacher who most inspired them to succeed.”

“When I found out that they had chosen me for that honor, I thought that I had reached the pinnacle of pinnacles,” he said.

Reflecting on his own youth, Jardina said he cannot imagine doing anything more fulfilling.

“I wasn’t the best student; I grew up in the projects in Johnstown,” he said. “But I met a teacher who then became a mentor and told me that I could be whatever I wanted.”

Jardina, a triplet, has a sister who is a nurse and a brother who is a teacher.

“I can’t remember ever want-ing to be anything else but a tea-cher,” Jardina said. “I think it’s kind of like a calling from God.”

His enthusiasm is carried on in the next generation. His son, Adam, is pursuing a teaching career. Adam Jardina said he cannot imagine his dad doing any other job.

“As a child, my teacher in-spired me, and since becoming a teacher, I know that I, too, can change the lives of others,” the elder Jardina said.

“To be able to go to work each day, love your job and all of the people around you – well, every day is a blessing, and I am thankful for that.”