Fairfield, Cardinal teachers honored

First-year teachers in the Fairfield and Cardinal community school districts were awarded scholarships during a ceremony Friday.

The Druzilla F. Clark Educators Foundation held its fifth annual awards presentation, beginning with a short ceremony at the Elm Grove School on the Greater Jefferson County Fairgrounds, followed by a dinner, social time and awards at the Fairfield Golf & Country Club.

At the close of the presentation at the Elm Grove School, Mike Filson, president of the Greater Jefferson County Fair Board, was introduced, and recognized for the board's dedication to preserving Elm Grove as a historical building that demonstrates early education in Jefferson County. The Druzilla F. Clark Educators Foundation presented Filson with a donation of $1,000 to the fair board to be used for the continuing restoration of the building.

The foundation distributed $32,000 among the first-year teachers at Fairfield and Cardinal, and to the two Teachers of the Year at both districts: Heidi Bowman, a second-grade teacher in the Fairfield district; and Maria Youngblut, a kindergarten teacher in the Cardinal district.

At the end of the evening, outgoing members of the Druzilla F. Clark Educators Foundation were recognized for their service and dedication for the first five years of the foundation. Those retiring from the board are Ralph Messerli, President; Linda Messerli, Executive Assistant, and Linda Booth, Secretary/Treasurer.

Gloria Countryman, an original board member, will continue on the board as president. Jane Ragen and Ron Hunerdosse have joined the board.

The Druzilla Clark Educators Foundation was begun by a young man who had Clark as his elementary teacher many years ago. Clark stayed connected with the donor through his school years and throughout his life. Due to the help she gave him, the donor promised he would do something significant in her name to help other educators become successful just as Clark did in his life.

The foundation’s donor wishes to honor today’s dedicated teachers and encourage them and others in the profession toward excellence in teaching. The anonymous donor stated, “Teachers touch so many lives each year in both small and large ways. Teachers are on the front lines of our future.”

The foundation welcomes donations of all sizes. Information about the Druzilla F. Clark Educators Foundation can be found at dfclarkfoundation.org.