Heather Lee, an English as Second Language (ESL) teacher at Lawrence High School, has been recognized as the Dedication to Education Award winner by the Lawrence Schools Foundation and Superintendent Rick Doll.  The award provides $5,000 to the recipient.

 

Lee has served as an ESL teacher at Lawrence High since 2012-13.  Lee earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Kansas and taught three years in the Salina Public Schools before moving to Lawrence.

 

Among her many efforts for her students, Lee hosts back-to-school nights for families of ESL learners, stays after school to tutor students, and worked with the KU School of Engineering to start a science night for Hispanic students.  She is an equity leader at Lawrence High and attended the National Summit for Courageous Conversations this year.

 

“There is a direct correlation between Heather’s outstanding work with students and the improvements Lawrence High is seeing in the academic performance of English Language Learners and Hispanic students,” said LHS Principal Matt Brungardt.

 

A nomination letter from Debbie Soule, an ESL teacher at LHS, said “Heather exemplifies all that is good in teaching.  She is thoughtful in her lesson planning, she is engaging in her instruction, and she wins the respect and hearts of every student and staff member who enters her door.”

 

The Dedication to Education Award is a teaching honor created through the Foundation by a group of community members inspired by their fathers' example. They are the sons of another group of anonymous Foundation donors (with the first name Bob) who created the Bobs' Award, an Award for Teaching Excellence, in 1997. The sons created the Award for Dedication to Education in 2007 to reward a certified teacher or paraeducator in the Lawrence Public Schools who goes the extra mile to help kids who need it most. The award honors someone who supports the school district's mission of "Learning for All, Whatever it Takes" by ensuring that challenged and/or disadvantaged students learn.

 

The Lawrence Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that raises money to enrich the education of all students in the Lawrence Public Schools.  The Foundation seeks to promote and enhance effective early childhood education, innovative teaching and learning opportunities, recognition of outstanding educators, and encouragement of student achievement.

 

Dedication to Education Award Winners

2014 – Heather Lee (Lawrence High School)

2013 - Morgan Randle (Southwest Middle School)

2012 - Ron Swall (Lawrence Free State High School)
2011 - Lori Sinclair (Woodlawn Elementary School)

2010 - Charlotte Lauts (Lawrence High School)

2009 - Mary Chamberlin (Pinckney Elementary School)

2008 - Mary Ann Henry (South Junior High School)

2007 - Jim Immel (Early Childhood Center)