LAKE COUNTY >> The Soper Reese hosted the Teacher of the Year and Excellence in Education Awards on Saturday night, when 17 instructors, employees and programs were awarded for their quality and effect on local students. Dr. Laurie Daly acted as the Master of Ceremonies, telling sometimes touching and sometimes humorous stories of her teaching and school days throughout the evening.
One such story proved that a positive attitude can go miles for students. Daly recalled an incident involving a teacher who was very impressed by her high achieving students. The teacher commented that the kids had high IQs and as a result were accomplishing a lot. However, the student”s IQs weren”t actually any higher than normal and the teacher had mistaken their locker numbers for their intelligence scores. This humorous incident shows the importance of high expectations, which play a direct hand in helping a student to succeed.
But perhaps the most telling anecdote that proved the importance of the County”s educators was an incident Daly revealed from her time in high school, when a drafting teacher she greatly admired deeply impacted her life.
The teacher approached her one day during class and suddenly said, “Laurie, you are a kind person, a smart person. You have gifts and anything you want to do, you can become.” Then he walked away.
This comment changed Daly”s life, because it was something she had never felt about herself. “These words stuck with me,” she said. “They were powerful.”
She went on to tell the crowd that as a teacher, you never know what kind of effect an offhand comment is going to have on a student.
“I know what we do changes lives,” she said.
These types of impactful words and expectations are traits that all of the honorees possess, and their characteristics no doubt led them to win their Teacher and Employee of the Year Awards.
The award program consisted of three categories: Classified Employee of the Year, Special Program Recognitions and Teacher of the Year.
Among the winners were Wally Holbrook, who won the ACSA Award for Administrator of the Year. According to presenter Tim Gill, the former Lake County Superintendent doesn”t seem to understand the concept of retirement. Gill had the audience laughing with his tribute to Holbrook, during which he said he”s seen him multiple times a week at work since his recent retirement.
Pat Iaccino presented Angel Hayenga with the Upper Lake High School District Teacher of the Year Award. Of Hayenga, he said, “She is a teacher who doesn”t teach — she lives every day what she teaches.”
Charlene Norwood, Upper Lake Union Elementary School District Teacher of the Year, proves that “attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference,” said presenter Valerie Gardner.
Chris Schoeneman presented the biggest award of the night to Katherine Perkins, who won Konocti Unified School District Teacher of the Year and Lake County Teacher of the Year.
Perkins is a first grade teacher at Burns Valley Elementary School, who loves teaching because of her students. “I know that sounds clich?,” she said. “I love to go to school every day.”
Of her award, Perkins said, “It”s amazing. It”s such an honor. It”s unexpected and appreciated.”
The night ended with a photo montage of all of the educators and employees honored that night. Photos of the award winners were projected on a screen at the top of the stage, accompanied by quotes attesting to their outstanding character. “Happy” by Secrets in Stereo played in the background.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019
