Hanley Teaching Award recipients announced
COLUMBUS, IN — Local elementary school teachers Wendy Foster and Jill Prestel are recipients of the 2017 William and Sally Hanley Excellence in Teaching Award administered through Heritage Fund – the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
Established in 2000, the award recognizes outstanding elementary teachers in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and comes with a $750 stipend. Recipients are nominated by their principals and must demonstrate dedication to their job, exemplary initiative and contributions to improve the school and its environment. Nominations are accompanied by letters of recommendation from the principal, fellow teachers, parents and students.
Foster, a sixth-grade teacher for the past three years at W.D. Richards Elementary School, was nominated for her commitment to helping students find success and developing personalized strategies to meet the specific needs of her young learners.
“Wendy is willing to spend all the time that is necessary in order to improve instruction in every classroom at Richards Elementary,” Principal Darin Sprong wrote in his nomination. “Finding individuals totally and unconditionally committed to students is a difficult, if not impossible, task. Wendy is an asset to the entire Richards community and a valuable resource to all of BCSC.”
In addition to teaching, Foster is a member of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Goal Action Team and the School Tech Team.
Prestel has been with Southside Elementary School for 20 years. The sixth-grade teacher was nominated for her love of teaching that brings out the best in every student.
“Mrs. Prestel makes each student feel as if they are the most talented young person in her class. She invests in the whole child. She is their advocate and critic in the most personal and caring combination,” Principal Jeff Backmeyer wrote.
Prestel’s school activities including coaching the oratorical team. She was praised for her organization and guidance of service learning projects for students, including volunteer bell ringing for the Salvation Army, fundraisers and food drives.
Foster and Prestel will be recognized at the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Board meeting on June 12.
Left to Right: Wendy Foster, Jill Prestel