The Lawrence school district has recognized two new teachers for their exemplary work with students.
Makia Austin, Cordley Elementary School teacher, and Allison Gates, West Middle School special education teacher, were presented with the district’s 2024 Horizon Award for elementary and secondary schools, respectively. The annual award is given to rising teachers who are beginning their second year in the district.
Cordley Principal Becky Reaver said in a post on the district’s Facebook page that Austin is “driven to teach.”
“It is within that very special goal of helping kids be successful, that she lives and thrives,” Reaver said in the post. “She has the ability to think like a teacher and a student, enabling her to see herself through her students’ eyes and offer a deeper level of empathy and understanding.”
Gates advocated for inclusion when she was a high schooler and then spent her college years working with adults with special needs, according to another post on the district’s Facebook page. In a nomination letter for the award, her colleagues at West wrote that “There isn’t a day that goes by when Allison is not thinking about what she can do to help students.”
“Our scholars just want someone to give them a chance — someone to believe in them, set high expectations for them, and support them in reaching those expectations,” former Superintendent Anthony Lewis said in the post. “The teacher we are here to honor, does all of this, and so much more.”
Along with the recognition, Austin and Gates each received $500. The district plans to nominate them both for the Kansas State Department of Education’s Kansas Horizon Award program.
Learn more about the local Horizon Award and see a list of previous recipients on the district’s website at this link.
Larry Englebrick, deputy superintendent, said during Monday’s school board meeting that presenting the two awards was Lewis’ “last official task” as superintendent.
Lewis has taken a job as superintendent in Durham, North Carolina schools, and Jeanice Swift on Monday was named Lawrence’s interim superintendent.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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