A Deerfield Elementary School teacher was surprised Monday with an award for her dedication to student success.
The Lawrence Schools Foundation presented Melissa Clover with the 2025 Dedication to Education Award during an all-school assembly Monday, according to a news release.
Clover teaches fourth grade at Deerfield. She was surrounded by current and past students, family, friends and peers as they celebrated her.
A peer of Clover’s wrote that “Melissa is an incredible educator that strives to make lasting connections with each and every student that comes through her classroom. She even seeks out interactions with students that might need a little extra care,” according to the release.
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Another peer wrote, “Throughout our lives we cross paths with people that shine a little brighter and bring joy to everyone around them. Melissa is one of those people, who has the inherent ability to make everyone around them better.”
The Dedication to Education Award is given annually to a certified teacher or paraeducator in the Lawrence school district who exceeds expectations and “supports the district’s Excellence, Equity and Engagement goals,” according to the release.
In addition to recognition, Clover received a $5,000 check.
The Bobs Award for Teaching Excellence, which is presented in the spring, is another award facilitated by the Lawrence Schools Foundation. Community members who are the sons and daughters of a group of anonymous donors who launched that award in 1997 were inspired to also create the Dedication to Education Award, presented in the fall.
Dedication 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)
2021 – Erin McDaneld-Campbell (Free State High School)
2022 – Brandon Daley (Woodlawn Elementary)
2023 – Caleb Rahmeier (West Middle School)
2024 – Deborah Woodall Routledge (Southwest Middle School)
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