LANGLEY — A video clip, a teacher skit and a handful of surprised faces marked the Parent Teacher Association awards on May 3.

Three teachers and three volunteers from the South Whidbey School District were honored with Outstanding Teacher and Golden Acorn awards. The Parent Teacher Associations of the three South Whidbey schools each nominate and award one teacher and one volunteer. The personal prize was the sincerity of the gratitude bestowed by various teachers, principals and students during the recent assembly at South Whidbey High School.

“This is always a fun night to remind us of the people who go way above and beyond,” said Shawn Nowlin, president of the South Whidbey Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association.

At the awards ceremony, one teacher received several kudos from different students. The high school’s Outstanding Teacher award-winner, Charlie Davies, unofficial special needs program coordinator at South Whidbey High School, was thanked by five students for helping them in and out of the classroom.

“Charlie’s been there my entire life,” said senior Seth Eckert, who told the crowd about asking Davies for career and college advice. “He told me once if

I try hard enough, anything is achievable, and I believed him.”

“He taught me that my challenges don’t really define me.”

A special needs designation covers a range of learning needs, from dyslexia to autism. One of Davies’ most vocal supporters was the high school principal, John Patton. As he introduced Davies, Patton praised him for taking the time to individually work with the students and fellow teachers to tailor curriculum for special needs students.

“This person really embodies the spirit of our school,” Patton said.

The attention Davies gives his students to stay on task resonated with a another student who spoke to the crowd of more than 75.

“If we were behind, he would come up and say it to our face,” said junior Jose Chavez.

The same students kept their hands ready for applause for the high school’s Golden Acorn winner and the “Queen of Math,” Anne Chambers. The math tutor has worked with Davies and math teacher Andy Davis, who surprised both winners by winning the Outstanding Teacher award himself.

“We’ve made Room 204 and 205 just the penthouse of math,” Davis said. “There’s not a day that goes by that she doesn’t ask me tough questions.”

“Her heart is gigantic, and she cares about these kids. She reminds me of why we do this, and it doesn’t take money.”

Patton highlighted Chambers’ service by the amount of time she spends tutoring math, from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., (and sometimes later), every day of the school week.

“The thing about Anne is she’s a great teacher, but she doesn’t get paid,” Patton said.

“She’s one of the reasons our math scores are improving.”

A handful of students attended the event, all of whom were aided by Chambers. At the end of her time on the stage, the students walked up to her, thanked her and hugged her.

For the Outstanding Teacher from Langley Middle School, it was the staff’s turn to show their thanks. A motley crew of teachers, staff and the middle school principal performed a skit depicting a class that shares its science projects. The big reveal was that each research topic — baking, humor, running, children and respiration — was based on one person, DeAnn Ross, a math and science teacher. Her honors concluded with a song from the group.

“Oh DeAnn, we’re your biggest fa-a-an, you got us rocking’ and a-rollin’, rockin’ and a-groovin,’ oh DeAnn,” sang the chorus.

The middle school volunteer award went to one person, though a quartet was celebrated.

Langley Middle School social studies and language arts teacher Rachel Kizer presented the Golden Acorn to Jill Campbell, owner of Island Recycling in Freeland, and her crew. Campbell not only presented the Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s Soup Labels for Education programs to the middle school, she and her staff sort through recycled materials for the labels worth 10 cents each. In the two years since the program began, more than $2,000 worth of books were purchased for the middle school.

“When we first met, she said she was prouder of this than any other project she had worked on,” Kizer said.

South Whidbey Elementary School’s awards went to unconventional education supporters; one a counselor, the other an art docent. Fourth grade teacher Pam Muncey praised one of the school’s counselors, Dayle Gray, with a five-minute video of elementary school teachers, administrators and students thanking Gray.

“You are my right arm, my left arm and both my legs sometimes,” said Principal Jamie Boyd in the video.

Gray, in turn, thanked her colleagues for their support and work.

As a counselor, Gray works with students as they experience the first steps of social maturation in the kindergarten through fifth grade world. In the winter, Gray was one of three counselors who worked with students following the death of a classmate.

“I hope the thing I’ve done with the kids will stay with them into adulthood,” Gray said.

Betsy Gmerek received the Golden Acorn award for supporting arts education at the elementary school. While the elementary school has dedicated faculty for world language, music and physical education, the art teaching position has long been vacant with no plans to staff it.

“It’s pretty remarkable for one person to step up and shoulder an arts program,” Nowlin said.

“Every single student at South Whidbey Elementary School has been touched by our art docent program.”

Gmerek was lauded for working with students who were pulled out of class for whatever reason, while she was leading an arts lesson. For Gmerek, the drive to work on art projects went beyond a well-rounded education.

“For some (students), it’s critical,” she said. “They may not have another way to communicate.”