Dallas-based Catholic Foundation honors 27 local teachers and staff with Work of Heart Awards

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — The Catholic Foundation thanked 27 local teachers and staff for their service and dedication to the Catholic community by presenting each with a Work of Heart Award during this year’s Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 25-31. Each recipient receives a $500 grant for personal use in exchange for their commitment to students, colleagues and their communities.

“Catholic Schools Week is dedicated to celebrating those who make a difference in our communities across the nation by recognizing the invaluable service and contributions teachers make to our schools,” said Edwin M. Schaffler, president of the Catholic Foundation. “The Catholic Foundation would like to take this time to thank and recognize those in our immediate Dallas area with Work of Heart Awards for going above and beyond what is expected of them.”

The Work of Heart Award program was established in 2005 and funded solely by an anonymous Dallas family through the Catholic Foundation. To this day the program has given 528 grants totaling $463,000 to educators and staff of Catholic lower, middle and high schools located in the Dallas area. This year, The Catholic Foundation has matched the family’s contribution to the program.

In addition, the family invites likeminded individuals to join them in recognizing the effort and commitment of the educators and staff in their local Catholic schools. Individual contributions can be made to the Work of Heart Award Fund at the Catholic Foundation.

Work of Heart Award recipients are nominated by students, teachers, parents, administrators and community members. This year, the Foundation has formed a committee, with members of its Advisory Council, to read the nomination letters received each month and decide which teachers and staff members will receive a Work of Heart Award. The nominations are judged based on traditional merit criteria including tenure and leadership, acts of kindness or charity, Christian example, mentoring and simply going the extra mile for an individual student, family or the community.

The following recipients each received a $500 Work of Heart Award in recognition of their outstanding service.

All Saints Catholic School: Claire Dodge, 5th Grade Teacher

Bishop Dunne Catholic School: Marcela Garcini, Spanish Teacher and Senior Sponsor, Stephen Guerrero, Middle School Athletic Director, Coach and Health Teacher and Tim McManus, Theology Teacher, Basketball Coach

John Paul II High School: Eric Butcher, Newspaper and Journalism Teacher, Football Coach, Eugenia Jameson, History and Government Teacher, Hailey Drescher, Speech Teacher, Lindsay Moore, English Teacher, Rosey Restani, Math Teacher and Soriya Nelson, Spanish Teacher

Mount St. Michael Catholic School: Doreen Dillier, Administrative Assistant and Karen Thomas, 4th Grade Teacher

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School: Tamara Tamez, 7th Grade Teacher

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School: Christina Clem, Principal and Marta Martinez, Kindergarten Aide

St. Mark’s Catholic School: Patricia Orchowski, English Teacher

St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School: Thom Suhy, Principal and Cherie Tatum, Middle School Teacher

St. Monica Catholic School: Cheryl Sanchez, World and American History Teacher

St. Patrick’s Catholic School: Vanessa Perry, 1st Grade Teacher

St. Paul the Apostle School: Ann Cahill, Administrative Assistant

St. Philip the Apostle School: Carmelo Ojeda, Custodian and Mary Lotspeich, 1st Grade Teacher

St. Pius X Catholic School: Barbara McKissick, 3rd Grade Teacher

St. Thomas Aquinas School: Sara Casner, 4th Grade Teacher and Jenny Perez, Physical Education Teacher

The Highlands School: Charlie Lindner, Business Manager