PSU honors educators for service and teaching

  Monday, April 8, 2013 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

The Pittsburg State University College of Education will honor three teachers and an administrator for their distinguished service and teaching excellence at the annual Clyde U. Phillips Awards Recognition Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom of the Overman Student Center. More than $150,000 in student scholarships will also be awarded as part of the ceremony.

Distinguished Service Award
The Clyde U. Phillips Distinguished Service Award is given to one teacher and one administrator whose careers have been highlighted by significant achievement and excellence in education. This year, the awards go to Ann Lee, principal at Westside Elementary School in Pittsburg, and Richard Holroyd, a teacher at Labette County High School.

Ann Lee has earned three degrees from Pitt State. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1997, a master’s degree in school counseling in 2001 and a master’s degree in educational leadership in 2008.

Lee began her career at Jefferson Elementary School in Joplin in 1998 as a fifth grade teacher. She served as a school counselor at Cecil Floyd Elementary and Kelsey Norman Elementary in Joplin before coming to Pittsburg Community Schools (USD 250) in 2005. At USD 250, Lee worked as a school counselor at George Nettels Elementary until 2009, when she was named assistant principal at Pittsburg Middle School. In 2011, the district named Lee to her current position as principal of Westside Elementary.

In letters of nomination, writers praised Lee for her dedication to students and her ability to inspire teachers.

“I have never worked with an administrator who is as caring, helpful, encouraging, intelligent, down to earth, and professional as Mrs. Lee,” one teacher wrote.

Richard Holroyd also has three degrees from PSU. He earned a bachelor’s degree in technology education in 1973, a master’s degree in technology studies in 1976 and a specialist in education with a major in workforce development and education in 1998.

Holroyd began his teaching career as an industrial arts at Horton (Kan.) High School in 1973. There, he established new programs in materials and processes and the world of construction and also taught woodworking and drafting.

In 1976, Holroyd accepted an offer to teach at Labette County High School, where he teaches today.

In addition to teaching, Holroyd participates in Habitat for Humanity and the Southeast Kansas Farm History Center. He is a two-time recipient of the Mort Livingston, Dr. W. Larry Williamson Teacher Appreciation Award.

In letters of nomination, colleagues noted the affect Holroyd has had on students.

“Most rewarding to me is the number of young men and women he influenced to become teachers in technology education and career and technical education,” one nominator wrote.

Outstanding Educator Award

The Clyde U. Phillips Outstanding Educator Awards recognize one elementary and one secondary school teacher who have distinguished themselves within their first seven years of service and exhibit the potential to make significant contributions to education.

The 2013 Outstanding Educator Awards go to Ke’olani Addis, a third grade teacher at Carl Junction, Mo., and Salvador Prado, a junior and senior high school band teacher at Jasper R-V schools.

Addis graduated from PSU in 2009 with a bachelor of science degree in education. Her third-grade class was one of the top scoring classes for her building in Missouri Assessment Program.

Nominators praised her “magnificent relationship with her peers” and parents wrote that Addis “makes class fun while still giving them plenty of work.”

Prado graduated from PSU with a bachelor’s degree in music education in 2011 and nominators credit his “dynamic personality” for helping increase interest in the school’s music program.

“He cares a great deal about kids and has a positive effect on kids every day,” one wrote.

The Clyde U. Phillips awards were established in memory of Clyde U. Phillips, a graduate of Pittsburg State University and a well-known Kansas educator. Phillips, who met his wife, Fern Field Phillips, when they were both students at PSU, completed his career in education as the superintendent of schools in Hays. In their will, the Phillipses bequeathed a sum of money to support the awards.