A $5,000 prize awaits the winner of the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 2021 Dedication to Education Award. The honoree’s check will arrive just in time for the holidays and winter break, but the foundation must receive the nomination by Nov. 30.
The Dedication to Education Award is an annual honor for a teacher, staff member or paraeducator “who goes the extra mile to help those kids that need it most,” according to a news release from the foundation. A group of community members inspired by their fathers’ examples created the award in 2007. They’re the sons and daughters of another group of anonymous donors — all named Bob — for whom a separate teaching award given each spring was named.
Those who can submit letters of nomination include colleagues, parents, students, alumni and community members; however, self-nominations won’t be accepted. The foundation will select the winner with input from the superintendent of schools.
Criteria for nominees include:
- Certified teacher, staff member or paraeducator
- Current employee of Lawrence Public Schools
- Supporter of “Learning for All” by doing “Whatever it Takes” to ensure challenged and/or disadvantaged students learn
- Those dedicated to the success of every student
Access the nomination form — due Nov. 30 — and a list of previous winners below.
2021-Criteria-Dedication-to-Education-AwardDedication to Education Award Recipients:
2007 – Jim Immel (Early Childhood Center)
2008 – Mary Ann Henry (South Junior High School)
2009 – Mary Chamberlin (Pinckney Elementary School)
2010 – Charlotte Lauts (Lawrence High School)
2011 – Lori Sinclair (Woodlawn Elementary School)
2012 – Ron Swall (Lawrence Free State High School)
2013 – Morgan Randle (Southwest Middle School)
2014 – Heather Lee (Lawrence High School)
2015 – Cara McNorton (Kennedy Elementary School)
2016 – Kim Fuller (South Middle School)
2017 – Leah Henry (Juvenile Detention Center)
2018 – Mike Harris (Sunflower Elementary School)
2019 – Jessica Rohrberg (District Wide Physical Therapist)
2020 – Baileigh Faler (Broken Arrow Elementary)
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Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
