A Collier County Public School teacher has been named National Title 1 Migrant Teacher of the Year. Tom Pipher is a Reading intervention specialist at Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee. He recently traveled to San Francisco to be honored by the National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education. Title 1 is a federal program that directs money to high poverty schools. Pipher teaches reading to migrant students in the 1st and 2nd grades…at school, and in their homes. He says the program serves a great need.

“I won’t say it’s unique but it is very successful. Migrant children are receiving additional support…throughout the nation there are over half a million migrant students in the county. Collier County has over 4800 students in school, and many more…almost 4000 out of school that the migrant program serves.”

Pipher’s 35-year teaching career concludes this year with his retirement. He was also recently honored as Florida Migrant Teacher of the Year.