The Lincoln Education Association (LEA) awarded several teachers and students Thursday night for teaching excellence and separate scholarship awards, surrounded by members of the LPS District Office team and the Nebraska State Education Association president Tim Royers.
The annual award ceremony from the association honored 31 retiring teachers, several current teachers, two students and three outgoing LPS Board of Education members.
Two Lincoln High teachers were among those honored this evening by the union. LHS Spanish teacher Zach Mapes was awarded the High School Educator of the Year award after being nominated by a peer at LHS.
His nominator, and LHS French and journalism teacher, Will West, recognized Mapes as being a one-of-a-kind teacher who welcomed all students and made them feel empowered to succeed and supported his peers and students in many ways.
“I’m humbled and honored to accept this award. I would not and could not be where I am as a teacher without the support and encouragement from my wife and my wonderful colleagues in the World Language department. They, along with the students of LHS, make waking up everyday and giving it my all, worth it,” Mapes said.
LHS English teacher Kim Sleeper was also awarded the Barbara Buckingham-Patronsky scholarship which awards teachers funding to further their learning through travel.
“Travel has been life and perspective changing for me in every aspect. It has fundamentally changed the way I interact with others as well as the way I teach. I am overjoyed to receive this scholarship from a former teacher who valued travel itself as a learning opportunity,” said Sleeper.
This scholarship, in memory of a former teacher who loved to travel and learn, will fund Ms. Sleeper’s travels to Mexico and Guatemala this summer.
LHS and LPS Arts and Humanities senior Logan Burbach was awarded the LEA STAR scholarship which awards $1,000 to child of LEA members for studies at any public or private Nebraska post-secondary institution.
“I am honored to be awarded the STAR scholarship from the Lincoln Education Association. So many teachers have inspired me to love learning and helping others. I look forward to doing the same thing when I become a teacher,” Burbach said.
Other nominees included Cecilia Hernandez-Chavez, Hailey Greene, Jennifer Fisher and Dawn Lawrey.
LEA honored recently passed board member Lanny Boswell who died after a hard-fought battle with cancer several weeks ago, as well as his outgoing board colleagues Kathy Danek and Don Mayhew. Danek and Mayhew each served 24-years on the LPS Board of Education.
LEA celebrates retiring teachers and award winners each year in May.
