When Mallory Johnson walked into the packed common area inside Community Connections at Pinckney for a surprise Wednesday, she thought it might be cupcakes.
Minutes later, she was holding a check for $10,000, delivered by her children, to recognize her selection as this year’s Bobs Award winner.
Johnson was recognized for her student-centered approach to education that multiple parents said saved their students. Johnson works at the secondary therapeutic classroom, housed at Pinckney, which aims to create specialized learning environments to support students with significant social, emotional or behavioral needs.
“I don’t even have words,” Johnson said. “I love my job and I love my students, and I love my families, and I think one of the things that I love most about teaching is just connecting with other parents in the room.”
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One of the people who nominated Johnson was Sally Monahan, who said Johnson and the secondary therapeutic classroom were lifesavers for her son, Daniel.
“I just love Mallory,” Monahan said. “She’s a dear friend. I love her family. I love her kids, and she’s amazing how she just meets every student.”
Daniel said Johnson was the best teacher he’d ever had. He reflected on memories ranging from cleaning classrooms to water workouts.
“I hate school. I never wanted to go. I couldn’t even be in a classroom because I was so terrified of it,” Daniel said. “And she met me where I was, and even when I wasn’t comfortable with most of the people in the program, because I was new, I was comfortable with her. She’s been incredible for helping me advocate and improve on things I want to improve on.”
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Alicia Erickson, another parent who helped with the nomination, said Johnson transforms lives, including that of her daughter. As a parent, Erickson said Johnson helped her feel peace about her child’s education.
Parents said Johnson was a “last, best hope for stability” for many students, some of whom are set to graduate this week because of Johnson’s work to help boost their confidence and independence.
“Mallory is extra special,” Brady Swenson, a parent, said. “She’s absolutely deserving of the recognition and applause that she’s getting today. And I think (the secondary therapeutic classroom) as a whole deserves recognition for the invaluable service that you all provide to our community and to our children.”
Johnson is leaving her role at Pinckney after this year, and said she would deeply miss the school and its community.
“Kids are amazing and hard, and I have learned so much from all of my parents throughout the years of teaching,” Johnson said. “And I think that’s why it’s easy to know that if it’s a bad day, it can get better. If it’s a hard thing, it can get figured out. And I’m just so thankful for all of you.”
Jenna Viscomi, principal of Community Connections at Pinckney, said she was lucky to get to know Johnson over their years working together.
“As a principal, I feel like I’m only as successful as those that I support,” Viscomi said. “And I am so lucky to have known Mallory for as long as I have, but also to have worked side by side with her for as long as I have.”
Dena Johnston, executive director of the Lawrence Schools Foundation, said of all the work the foundation does, supporting educators is most important.
“The best part of what we get to do is we get to walk into classrooms and school buildings and see the work that you’re doing,” Johnston said.
Superintendent Jeanice Swift thanked the foundation for the work it does to support public schools in Lawrence.
The Bobs Award was created by a group of Lawrence business leaders who share the same first name of Bob. The benefactors choose to remain anonymous to focus attention on the award recipients. Wednesday’s award was the 30th annual presentation. Nominations for the Bobs Award may be submitted by students, staff, colleagues, alumni and community members, according to the nomination form; however, teachers may not nominate themselves.
Here’s a list of previous recipients of the Excellence in Teaching Award:
1997 – Val Howland (Broken Arrow Elementary School)
1998 – Gary Webber (Southwest Junior High School)
1999 – Sue Siegfried (Woodlawn Elementary School)
2000 – Dr. Victoria Beals (South Junior High School)
2001 – Pamela Bushouse (Free State High School)
2002 – Brian “Chip” Anderson (Lawrence High School)
2003 – Kathy Rathbun (Langston Hughes Elementary School)
2004 – Paula Barr (Hillcrest Elementary School)
2005 – Kathleen Wagner (West Junior High School)
2006 – Mary Chapman (Free State High School)
2007 – Sherry Vratil (Wakarusa Valley School)
2008 – Deb Engstrom (Lawrence High School)
2009 – Paulette Breithaupt (Sunset Hill Elementary School)
2010 – Christy Kelly (Cordley Elementary School)
2011 – Renee Babin (Schwegler Elementary School)
2012 – Michael Carriger (Lawrence High School)
2013 – Ryan McAdoo (Hillcrest Elementary School)
2014 – Jordan Rose (Free State High School)
2015 – Mike Jones and Rachel Dirks (Lawrence High School)
2016 – Scott Forkenbrock (Liberty Memorial Central Middle School)
2017 – Stu Strecker (Free State High School)
2018 – Michele Duncan (Sunset Hill Elementary School)
2019 – Susan Lomshek (Schwegler Elementary School)
2020 – Kaitlin Shulman (Quail Run Elementary School)
2021 – Susan Mička (Lawrence High School)
2022 – Sam Rabiola (Free State High School)
2023 – Valerie Schrag (Lawrence High School)
2024 – Brad Stoll (Lawrence High School)
2025 – Gina Carter (Woodlawn Elementary)
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2022. He can be reached at [email protected].
Read his complete bio at this link. Read more of his work for the Times at this link.
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