Carson High graduate teacher of the year story

A Carson High School graduate was named Carson City's teacher of the year Tuesday night.

Carson Middle School math teacher Ellen Fallon graduated from Carson High School in 1981, and went on to become a certified public accountant before deciding she wanted to be a teacher.

Principal Tom Badillo introduced Fallon to the school board and public Tuesday.

"She works very hard and takes it very personally when her students don't succeed," Badillo said. "If she has high expectations for her students, she has higher expectations for herself."

Badillo said she was the sort of teacher who other teachers would want to instruct their children.

"I enjoyed being an accountant, but not as much as I enjoy being at teacher," Fallon said.

"There are a lot of great candidates tonight," she said of the competition.

Teachers selected by their peers at each Carson City school were honored by the school board.

"This is a way for teachers to recognize their peers," said Richard Stokes, associate superintendent of human resources for Carson City schools. "This is a chance to honor these folks."

Fallon's selection from the list of candidates was a closely guarded secret. More than 50 well-wishers packed the school board meeting to cheer on the 10 different candidates from each of Carson's schools.

The nominees were Ruth Moreland, Carson High; Corrina Fallini-Jackson, Eagle Valley Middle School; Donna Schellin, Bordewich-Bray Elementary; Jean Johnston, Empire Elementary; David Lowe, Fremont Elementary; Kerrie Laack, Fritsch Elementary; Tracy Schmid, Mark Twain Elementary; Geraldine Moore, Seeliger Elementary; and Janet Silvestro, Student Support Services.

Fallon moved to Carson City when she was 4 with her parents Fred and Martha Alpers. She is married to Kevin Fallon and has two children, Connor and Alex.

While attending Carson High, Fallon was named Rotary exchange student to Denmark.