teacher Thomas Josephson has been named a 2012 Global Enterprising Educator of the Year.
He will receive his award on April 18 at the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Dare to Dream Awards Dinner at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.
Josephson, a Port Chester resident, has taught economics and history at the high school since 2003 and has been teaching NFTE’s entrepreneurship curriculum for the past two and a half years.
“Teaching is a rewarding career because you get the opportunity to refine and improve your effectiveness,” Josephson said. “I enjoy teaching economics and business concepts to my students and always look for creative ways to teach their concepts.”
An experienced entrepreneur who ran his own company for many years, Josephson shares with his students real world anecdotes from his years as a businessman. He stresses the use of spreadsheets as an essential tool.
He also integrates technology as often as possible in his classroom - using web sites including Facebook, Zipskinny and Surveymonkey, as well as unique interactive games, software and even Flip video cameras.
“I always had my Econ classes build a business plan,” said Josephson, “but the resources provided by NFTE make the experience that much more meaningful for my students. For example, I’ve had the former CEO of Snapple present to my students numerous times since my affiliation with NFTE.”
Mitchell Combs, Port Chester High School principal, noted that one of Josephson’s students last year made the national semi-finals in NFTE’s student competition.
“Tom Josephson is a talented and creative teacher and we are proud that he has been recognized by NFTE with this award,” said Combs.
Josephson graduated from Princeton University in 1979 and was awarded his Masters in Education Technology from NYIT in 2010. He lives in Port Chester with his wife, Maureen. Their three sons are graduates of Port Chester High School.
