Four K-12 teachers and their schools were honored on Saturday for earning the Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching.
Boise State University’s College of Education and Alan and Wendy Pesky, founders of the Lee Pesky Learning Center, sponsored these annual awards, which were presented during Boise State’s winter commencement ceremony at Taco Bell Arena.
The Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching recognizes K-12 teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students.
Alan and Wendy Pesky personally presented the awards — each of the four teachers received $2,000 and their schools received $500 each.
Here are the 2015 Pesky Award recipients:
Sheryce Davis, Owyhee Elementary School, Boise School District; 5th and 6th grade general education teacher. Nominated by Amber Bigelow, who said, “After years of frustration and feeling like we couldn’t help our own daughter, Mrs. Davis looked at us at our daughter’s 3rd grade parent teacher conference and said she would be an advocate for our daughter as long as she needs it, even into college. I cried the whole way home from that life-changing meeting.”
Rich Lapp, Timberline High School, Boise School District; 10th-12th grade choir teacher. Kara Brocksome nominated Lapp and said he pushed his students to be better every day. “He taught me that caring and patience is key to being a good teacher. He led with love and high expectations that showed his students that he cared about our success as students and as future citizens of the community.”
Mary McGuire, Horizon Elementary School, Boise School District; reading specialist. Stephani Pickkett nominated McGuire and said, “It was during her class that I understood that an education could never be taken from you, and that an education would be the only thing that could help you rise above your circumstances. I knew then that I would become a teacher.”
Brooke Roy, Rocky Mountain High School, West Ada School District; 9th-12th grade psychology, English teacher. Lauren Denny nominated Roy and said she wants to emulate the enthusiasm Roy brought to her classroom. “Now on the other side of education, I see her methods and understand why they were effective. I love the way she was able to go the extra mile for her students.”
Alan and Wendy Pesky founded the Lee Pesky Learning Center, headquartered in Boise, in honor of their son Lee, who died in 1995 at age 30 from a brain tumor. As a child, Lee had to learn skills to overcome dysgraphia, a problem with organizing letters, numbers and words on a line or page. The center created in his name focuses on giving children and adults with learning disabilities, and those living in poverty, the tools they need to succeed in school. The center also works with teachers around Idaho to give them the updated tools and information on the latest developments in teaching techniques and research findings.
Disclaimer: Idaho Education News is housed at Boise State University’s College of Education.
