Erlene is creative, innovative and inspiring in order to implant within each student a love for learning, a desire to be with a community of learners, and be empowered as an independent thinker and problem solver. Dr. Nelson believes that teaching is not stagnant, for to be an exemplary teacher, she must be a student herself, forever learning the latest that educational research has to offer from the teachers who were once our students.
Dr. Erlene Nelson
Philadelphia, PA | Years Taught: 1958 – Present
Additional Recognition
- 2009 • World Teacher’s Day Proclamations: PA Governor; PA Secretary of Education; House of Representatives; Philadelphia Mayor; PFT; Temple U.
- 2007 • Distinguished Educator of the Year •
- 2007 • Rose Lindenbaum Improvement of Education Award
- 2006 • First School District of Philadelphia Carter G. Woodson Award for Excellence in Teaching
- 2003 • Philadelphia Eagles Football Team, Team Player teacher
- 2003 • PA 76’ers Basketball Team Hometown Hero Award
- 2002 • National Board Certification
- 2000 • Newspapers in Education; Innovative Teacher of the Year
- 1999 • USA Today Newspaper, Team Teacher
- 1999 • PA $10,000 Humane Educator of the Year
- 1998 • William Ross Scholarship Award for Exemplary Teaching
- 1997 • Philadelphia West Region Teacher of the Year
Inducted: 2010
State: Pennsylvania