December 14, 2007
Schools Foundation to Present $5,000 Teacher Award
Contact: Susan Esau, Executive Director, 330-2790 or sesau@usd497

Do you think an extra $5,000 might come in handy during the holiday season? The Lawrence Schools Foundation will surprise a teacher in the Lawrence Public Schools by rewarding him with a check for $5,000 at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 17, at East Heights Early Childhood Family Center. (Meet at 1:45 p.m. in the school office and proceed to the classroom as a group.)
The Special Award for Dedication to Education is a new teaching honor created through the Foundation by a group of community members inspired by their fathers’ example. They are the sons of another group of anonymous donors (with the first name Bob) who created the Bobs’ Award, a $10,000 Special Award for Teaching Excellence, in 1997. The Foundation annually presents The Bobs’ Award in the spring.
The sons created the new $5,000 Special Award for Dedication to Education to reward a certified teacher or paraeducator in the Lawrence Public Schools who goes the extra mile to help kids who need it most. The award honors someone who supports the school district’s mission of “Learning for All, Whatever it Takes” by ensuring that challenged and/or disadvantaged students learn.
The first recipient is Jim Immel, an early childhood teacher at East Heights Early Childhood Family Center. Immel earned his bachelor’s degree at The University of Kansas. He worked with preschoolers and children with autism for nine years in Overland Park and Lawrence before joining the Lawrence Public Schools in 1992. He served as a special education paraeducator and worked with students with autism for five years at Quail Run Elementary School, and for the past 11 years, has served as an early childhood education teacher at Pinckney Elementary School (1997-2003) and now East Heights Early Childhood Family Center (2003-present).  
"Jim has a natural way with children; his gentle responsive manner is all about children,” said Cris Anderson, East Heights’ principal. “Each year parents and children will make a point to tell me how Mr. Immel has touched their lives.”
“He’s exactly what every school needs – a hopeless optimist who loves to work hard to see children reach their potential,” wrote Kris Matthews, whose son Robbie was in Immel’s class last year. “My favorite moment of each day was walking by the window of his classroom after dropping Robbie off and hearing the kids singing…it took all that I had not to sit down in the well-organized, joyous circle and join in.”
“Jim shows a true love, not only for his kids, but also for his position as an early childhood teacher,” said Becky Hapke, paraeducator. “His love for school, teaching and children is contagious and all those around him can’t help but catch that happiness he gives off when he comes to work each day.”
The Lawrence Schools Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization committed to enhancing the education provided to all students by the Lawrence Public Schools. Through the generation and management of gifts, the Foundation seeks to promote and enhance innovative teaching and learning opportunities, the recognition of teachers and staff, the recognition and encouragement of student achievements, and effective early childhood programs.

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