Druzilla F. Carl Educators Foundation presents awards to local teachers

The Druzilla F. Clark Educators Foundation has presented monetary awards in the amount of $2,000, to first year teachers and the Teacher of the Year in the Cardinal Community School District and the Fairfield Community School District for 2020. The award presentation was different this year than in the past three years since the Foundation's beginning in 2017. Because of COVID-19, the teachers received their awards at separate presentations within their district.

In May, DFC Educators Foundation Board, Ralph Messerli, Linda Messerli, Linda Booth, and Gloria Countryman, presented awards to the first year teachers of the Cardinal School District for successful completion of their first year of teaching. Those receiving awards were: Taylor Holman, 3rd Grade, Kayeleigh Rook, 3rd Grade, Abbey Shelman, Half time Counselor, Amy Fye, 5th Grade, Nicole Peden, 5th Grade, Ashlyn Thompson, MS Math, Courtney Cordray, HS Science, Derek McIntyre, HS PE, Jenney Petersen, HS Ag Education. Cardinal's Teacher of the year for 2020, Sheila Fetter, was honored with an award for her past service as an elementary/middle school classroom teacher and for her current position as an instructional coach. Superintendent Joel Pederson introduced each of the teachers and shared how each of the teacher had contributed to the District and had been able to adapt to the changes in their teaching because of Covid 19.

In June, DFC Educators Foundation Board presented awards to the first year teachers of the Fairfield Community School District for their successful completion of their first year of teaching. Those receiving awards were: Shayla Filson, 1st Grade, MacKenzie Kuehn, 8th Grade Language Arts, Anna Phillips, Middle School Special Education, and Ashton Lawson, Middle School Family and Consumer Science and Language Arts. Fairfield's Teacher of the Year for 2020, Tari Eeling, was honored with an award for her years of service as an elementary teacher. Superintendent Laurie Noll introduced and shared personal comments of the teacher's contribution to the District and thanked them for the changes they had to make in their teaching because of Covid 19.

The Druzilla F. Clark Educators Foundation was founded by an anonymous donor who wanted to honor an educator that made a difference in his life, not only during his school years, but in the years after graduation. Because of Druzilla's help, he promised to do something in her honor to help other educators become successful and significant in the lives of their students as she did for him. The purpose of the Foundation is to honor today's dedicated teachers and show the beginning teachers encouragement towards excellence in their teaching profession.

By establishing this Educators Foundation, our donor's hope is that it will become a total community effort. Donations, large or small, corporate or individual, are encouraged and welcome, because, when the education of our students is improved, our whole community benefits.

More information about the Druzilla F Clark Educators Foundation can be found at dfclarkfoundation.org