A reading specialist of nearly thirty years is one of the recipients of the Regional Office of Education for LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam Counties’ Excellence in Education Awards. Beth Woolley has spent the last twenty at McKinley Elementary School in Ottawa.
Recipients aren’t told ahead of time they’ve been chosen for the annual award.
Woolley says she’s a third generation teacher and says becoming one was an obvious choice. She described McKinley Elementary as a family
The other recipient this year is Mendota High School Choir Director Lori Schrock. She’s been at Mendota for 26 years and has been teaching for 34. Schrock is retiring this year. Her advice to new teachers is to remember it’s about the kids.
Schrock couldn’t decide on just one favorite moment in teaching.
Each recipient will get $350 to use in their classrooms and a gift card to a local restaurant. The awards are normally presented at an annual banquet, but were presented this year via video conference.
Beth Woolley (left) and Lori Schrock (right) after receiving Excellence in Education Awards