Eight KCK district teachers receive monetary awards for excellence, dedication

 By TOM PERRIN - The Kansas City Star
Date: 05/15/01 22:15

 Doing his best Ed McMahon/Publishers Clearing House impersonation, Kansas City, Kan., School District Superintendent Ray Daniels smiled broadly Tuesday morning as he walked into Dennis Lawrence's classroom, check in hand.

Lawrence, who teaches English at Washington High School, was one of eight district teachers who received $5,000 awards Monday and Tuesday for excellence and dedication.

The money came from the Ewing M. Kauffman Fund for Greater Kansas City. The teachers received their awards during classes, in surprise fashion.

Several winners, including Lawrence, became misty-eyed upon hearing the good news.

"It's nice to be honored, but I had conflicting emotions," Lawrence said. "The money is nice, but there are so many good teachers in this district, I feel like I'm keeping the limelight from someone."

Daniels was accompanied to each classroom by officials from the district and the Kauffman Fund, which is separate from, but financed by, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

About 130 teachers applied for the award, becoming eligible based on nominations by students, parents and educators. Winners can spend the money as they wish.

"We could have given out three or four times as many, we had so many good applicants," Daniels said.

Asked how he planned to spend the money, Lawrence said he drove home during lunch Tuesday and gave the check to his wife, Barbara, to whom he has been married for 30 years.

The other $5,000 winners from the district are Ruth Andresevic, business and computer teacher at Central Middle School; Rebecca Bell, second- and third-grade teacher at White Church Elementary School; Judy Dollard, social studies teacher at Eisenhower Middle School; Bilee Jo Grable, first- and second-grade teacher at Stony Point South Elementary School; Susan Keetle, special education teacher at White Church Elementary; Kathryn Kobe, special education teacher at Prepare House; and Dawn Schwartz, social studies

teacher at Northwest Middle School.

Two teachers from Catholic schools in Kansas City, Kan., -- Sister Eileen Haynes, who teaches English as a second language at Bishop Ward High School, and Peggy Patch, who teaches sixth grade at All Saints School -- received $5,000 awards in April.

The program also recognized 12 teachers in the Kansas City School District and two more in Catholic schools on the Missouri side of the state line.

In the Kansas City, Kan., district, selections were made by a nine-member committee that included a school board member, a National Education Association representative and district staff.

Criteria for the award included a track record of successful academic results, commitment to students and effective classroom management.

"It's an opportunity to say `thank you' (to teachers) for the job you're doing for the children in USD 500," said Gloria Willis, school board president. "So many times they don't think they're appreciated, and we don't say `thank you' enough."

Lawrence, a Kansas City, Kan., resident, has been a teacher 29 years, including the last 23 at Washington. He earned a doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1997.

Lawrence, who also teaches courses at Johnson County Community College, is known as a demanding teacher, but one who relates well to students.

"His kids can compete with kids from Sumner (Academy of Arts and Science, the district's magnet school)," said Washington Assistant Principal William McClendon. "He expects the best and doesn't accept anything but the best from these kids."