Teachers honored with money, respect
Published: November 9, 2006
Paul Hatcher knows how to coach. His Lee High School team holds the state record of 85 consecutive wins, but his outstanding record happens outside the basketball court as well. Hatcher, like nine other Dawbarn Award winners, presented by the Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge at Wednesday evening’s annual ceremony, also knows how to inspire — how to take a raw grain and help it blossom. [What Great Teachers Do Differently: Fourteen Things That Matter Most]
“Year after year, Paul Hatcher turns average players into good players, good players into great players, and finds ways to make full use of whatever talents a player has to contribute significantly to the team’s success,” said Pam Huggins, board member and chairman of the selection committee for the foundation. “Our cup runneth over. We are grateful to these exceptional human beings.”
The 14th annual awards ceremony honored public education efforts in the area by recognizing and rewarding individuals who demonstrated exceptional dedication, motivation and commitment to students; exceeding normal standards of professional or volunteer performance.
In addition to public recognition, each winner received a $6,900 award.
“Many times I think educators are not recognized,” said Roderic Owen, religion professor at Mary Baldwin College and Staunton School Board member. “The symbolic recognition and the monetary recognition is important.”
By honoring each student through a helping hand and a caring heart, no matter what their social class or academic ability, the foundation honors its community.
“Not a single teacher gets into teaching for the money or for awards,” said Dan Bledsoe, award winner and Waynesboro High School teacher and swim coach. “The kids of today can do great things — we just have to keep raising the bar.”
For Donna Wells, teen pregnancy prevention outreach coordinator, this message of hope and personal responsibility is paramount. As she accepted her award, Wells said that she tells kids everyday that people make mistakes and you move on.
“The youth in this area know that when they need advice or information, Donna Wells is someone they can talk to,” Huggins said. “She believes in them, and shows them how to believe in themselves.”
Wells, like the other nine winners emphasized that her love of teaching is a passion. [Teaching With Love and Logic: Taking Control of the Classroom]
She said, as her voice carried to the farthest corners of the room, tears rolling down her face, “I love what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: