Palm Beach County crowned its teaching elite Tuesday night, with five educators receiving a William T. Dwyer Award for Excellence in Education.
Their stories of stunning creativity, campus leadership and maintaining high standards were celebrated during a ceremony at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach
In a timeout from protests over teacher pay and unpopular curriculum changes, the 26th annual installment of the prestigious awards program showcased these stars:
Middle school science teacher Brian Thomas is a high-energy dynamo who has wrestled alligators and jumped from planes to teach his students about achieving goals.
Fourth-grade teacher Vicki Hutchinson sets high expectations for students and tells parents, "I am not just preparing your child for FCAT, I am preparing your child for Harvard."
Medical sciences academy teacher Meg Reller encourages students to become tomorrow's doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.
Chemistry teacher Nicole Dougherty strives to make science a "cool" subject, creating a classroom that is "an open invitation to ask how and why things happen."
Math teacher Susan Lemieux inspires by helping others in need: Last year she arranged a $250,000 home "makeover" for a local family of seven special-needs adopted children.
"Ms. Lemieux's energy and zest for her profession and life put her in a class of her own," wrote Rosemary Daniels, head of The Weiss School in Palm Beach Gardens, in a letter of recommendation. "Ms. Lemieux makes the world a better place and I am honored to have her on my staff."
Each winner received $3,000 and a personalized crystal flame award; and 20 finalists got $500 and a framed certificate.
Local business and community leaders judged the competition, which is organized and presented by the Education Foundation and the Economic Council of Palm Beach County.
The awards are named for the late William T. Dwyer, who was a Pratt & Whitney company vice president and founding president of the Education Foundation. Each year, most public and private schools nominate a teacher for the prize.
Hutchinson, who won in the elementary school category, has been teaching in the county since 1987. For the past five years, she's worked at Beacon Cove Intermediate School in Jupiter.
"Her passion and exuberance keeps her students mesmerized and excited to learn," Principal Una Hukill wrote to the Dwyer judging committee.
Thomas, the middle school winner, teaches biology and coaches boys' track and at Okeeheelee Middle in Greenacres.
In his seventh year as an educator, Thomas leads a campus boys' mentoring group called The Bridge. Male teachers serve as role models for at-risk students, helping "diamonds in the rough" move from boyhood to manhood.
"I'm not a man of many words. It's great to be among so many wonderful individuals in one room. I'm honored and humbled to be around so many leaders," he said after winning his award.
He also thanked his students, "all our children." "That's integral — making miracles, even if it's one miracle a year."
At Santaluces High, Dougherty heads one of the largest science departments in the school district. The Dwyer winner for high school teachers is also in her second year of a research collaboration with Florida Atlantic University.
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the project is aimed at improving science education and inspiring students to consider science as a career.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so excited, so surprised," she gushed. "I don't teach for an award, I don't teach for a recognition, but it's really nice to get it sometimes.
"We see our kids every day and we know that we're loved. It's nice to see it from the outside people."
Reller, who has taught at Jupiter High since the late 1980s, won the career education Dwyer. One of her activities is advising the school's Health Occupations Students of America club, which had more than 230 members last year.
Reller coached students who participated in regional, state and national competitions, winning honors at all three levels.
Morghan Walrich, one of those students, recommended her former teacher for a Dwyer Award because, "she truly cares about each and every one of her students."
Walrich said that while she won medals at the state challenges, "it was the support from my favorite teacher that I will always remember."
Lemieux, winner of the Dwyer Award for special programs, says she's serious about teaching her third- and fourth-grade students the importance of lending a helping hand, and giving back to their community.
And she has a silly side too: She once had her hair shaved into a mohawk after her class met a learning goal.
But her greatest act came last year when Rita and Les Gorenflo, and their children, moved into a rebuilt, 3,000-square-foot house in Palm Beach Gardens. Lemieux teamed up with her brother, a vice president of Suffolk Construction, to lead the charity project involving 60 companies and 5,000 volunteer hours.
"What can we say about a teacher who moonlights as an angel?" the Gorenflos wrote. "She has truly changed the lives of our seven children and for that we are grateful."
Press
The Economic Council William T. Dwyer Awards For Excellence In Education
Five Palm Beach County teachers awarded Dwyer prize
By Kevin D. Thompson
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Just because Susan Lemieux teaches math to gifted third- and fourth-grade students doesn't mean she can't have fun.
Lemieux, after all, once let her school's principal shave her hair into a Mohawk for a fundraising project.
But Lemieux, who teaches at the Weiss School in Palm Beach Gardens, wasn't honored tonight with a Dwyer Award at the Kravis Center for her odd hairstyle choice.
A former North Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year, Lemieux won in the special programs category.
"The cornerstone of my educational philosophy is the belief that every student can learn and any obstacle can be overcome," Lemieux wrote in her nomination application.
Each year the Dwyer Awards are given in five categories - elementary education, middle school, senior high school, career education and special programs.
The annual awards from the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County honor exceptional public and private school teachers.
In addition to teaching her class, Lemieux is head of the elementary math department. She also maintains the Edline page for the school.
Lemieux is just as busy outside the classroom. Seven years ago she helped a family of seven special needs children get an extreme makeover for their home.
Another winner was Brian Thomas, a biology teacher at Okeeheelee Middle in Greenacres. Thomas, whose goal is to turn students into "walking miracles," said he was "honored and humbled" to have won.
"It's great to be among so many wonderful individuals," Thomas said.
This year 200 teachers were nominated, with 25 becoming finalists.
The other Dwyer winners are:
In the elementary category, Vicki Hutchinson of Beacon Cove Intermediate in Jupiter. Hutchinson has been teaching for 23 years in Palm Beach County and has served as a mentor for other teachers as well.
For senior high, Nicole Dougherty of Santaluces Community High in Lantana. Dougherty is a biology and chemistry teacher who was a curriculum designer and instructor for the "Chemistry on Tour" science FCAT review program.
In career education, Meg Reller of Jupiter High. Reller has 25 years of experience teaching health and physical education. Her motto: "A teacher's job is to open the door … a student's job is to walk through it."
Educators recognized by their peers for selfless work, dedication
By Marc Freeman, Sun Sentinel
25 top teachers are finalists for Dwyer Awards
Palm Beach Post Staff Report
Twenty-five Palm Beach County teachers have been named finalists in the 26th annual William T. Dwyer Awards for Excellence in Education, out of a total of 196 teachers nominated by their peers at public and private schools.
The awards are a joint effort of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. The awards are open to teachers from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Five winners will receive their awards during a ceremony April 27 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Each award recipient receives a $3,000 check and a plaque, while the other 20 finalists get a framed certificate and a $500 check.
The finalists are:
Elementary school: Jessica Donohue (Highland Elementary); Kathleen Heidrich (Meadow Park Elementary); Vicki Hutchinson (Beacon Cove Intermediate); Peter Spinelli (Elbridge Gale Elementary); Amy Watt (Equestrian Trails Elementary)
Middle school: Douglas Battle (Emerald Cove Middle); Dawn DeWitt (Palm Springs Middle); Martha L. Griffith (Watson B. Duncan Middle); Brian C. Thomas (Okeeheelee Middle); Crystal Varnadore (Roosevelt Middle)
Senior high: Alicia H. Andersen (Cardinal Newman); Nicole Dougherty (Santaluces High); Noel Levin (West Boca Raton High); Lori Matyskiel (Park Vista High); Nora C. Ugalde (Jupiter High)
Special programs: Jennifer Briceno (Royal Palm Beach High); Nancy Howard (North Grade Elementary); Jennifer Jones (Elbridge Gale Elementary); Susan Lemieux (Weiss School); Donna Marie Ott (Royal Palm School)
Career education: Elissa Berman (Palm Beach Central High); Debra Carter (Spanish River High); Brian Dawson (Emerald Cove Middle); Meg Reller (Jupiter High); Earle Wright (Seminole Ridge High).
25 Palm Beach County teachers named finalists for prestigious Dwyer Awards
By Marc Freeman
South Florida Sun--Sentinel
Do you know a great teacher? In Palm Beach County, the William T. Dwyer Awards for Excellence in Education each year pay tribute to some of the best around.
On Friday, the organizers of the awards program revealed the names of 25 finalists, selected from a field of 196 nominees.
Award recipients will be announced April 27 at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach.
The finalists are 23 teachers from public schools, and two private school teachers, said Tracy Rudnick, director of programs and grants for the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County.
"This year's finalists are amazing," Rudnick said. "It was a real challenge to narrow the list to 25."
In its 26th year, the program recognizes outstanding educators for their creativity, high standards, leadership and community involvement.
A panel of business and community leaders representing the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the Education Foundation will interview the finalists March 6.
One winner will be chosen in each of five categories: elementary school, middle school, high school, special programs and career education. Each winner will receive $3,000 and a personalized crystal flame award; the other finalists will get $500 and a framed certificate.
The awards are named for the late William T. Dwyer, who was a Pratt & Whitney company vice president and founding president of the Education Foundation.
Tickets to the Kravis Center program cost $25. For information, call 561-434-8428.
