Top teacher awards presented
BUTLER TWP — The winners of the Red Apple Award were presented Wednesday morning.
The award recognizes one teacher from each Butler County school district and an instructor from Slippery Rock University, Butler County Community College and the Butler Vo-Tech.
The awards were presented at the United Way of Butler County annual meeting at the Butler County Community College.
It is sponsored by the United Way, and teachers are selected by a panel of community representatives.
This year's winners are:
• Liane Chisholm, Broad Street Elementary, Butler School District — Chisholm keeps a "Clothing Closet" for students and is a liaison for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She has had positions in the Butler Education Association and is a special education representative for the Math Quality Council. She has socialization events at her home for physically handicapped children.
• Nancy Lendyak, Karns City High School, Karns City School District — A learning support teacher, Lendyak is a Highmark Caring Team coordinator and a Kids That Care coordinator. She also serves as a Team/Student Assistance Program member and a Karns City Education Association representative. She won the A&E Channel's "Creative Ideas from Our Teachers" contest.
• Suzanne S. Olszewski, Mars High School, Mars School District — A language arts teacher, Olszewski started the Advanced Placement Program in the district and is the faculty adviser for the Mars High School National Honor Society. She is the curriculum leader in her department. Who's Who Among America's Teacher, Who's Who in American Education and Cambridge Who's Who Among Executive and Professional Women all recognized her. She volunteers with the Butler Musical Theater Guild and the Butler Little Theatre.
• Stefanie Maccaglia, Dassa McKinney Elementary, Moniteau School District — Maccaglia is a member of the presenting team from the district for the Governor's Institute on Tutoring and a leader of the anti-bullying program, Starfish.
• James Lucot Jr., Seneca Valley Senior High, Seneca Valley School District — Lucot has been a varsity football coach for 18 years and a Selective Service faculty representative. He created the American Conflicts Roundtable, a monthly history group organized for students and parents. He was recognized by Who's Who Among America's Teachers and won the Cranberry Rotary Service Above Self Educator Award, and the District Star Teacher Award. He volunteers for Veteran's Day programs.
• Kurt Ligo, Har-Mer Elementary, Slippery Rock School District — Ligo took on additional responsibilities at the school in the absence of a principal. He is a coach in the after-school gymnastics program and after-school basketball program. He was the winner of the Butler County Gift of Time in Education Award and was recognized by Who's Who in American Education.
• Jacqueline Pfeiffer, South Butler Primary School, South Butler School District — Pfeiffer has been awarded a Butler County Environmental Grant to build an outdoor classroom and 42 classroom gardens. She served in leadership roles in the local teacher's association, and is the support on site person for the Science is Elementary grant from the state. She leads the Explorers' Club. She volunteers at the HealthSouth Harmarville Rehabilitation Center.
• LuAnn Stillwagon, Butler County Vocational-Technical School — Stillwagon implemented the Manage First Program to certify her culinary arts students in customer service, food production and nutrition. She has been a judge in culinary competitions and was recognized by Who's Who Among American Teachers, Cambridge Who's Who Among American BusinessWomen in Education, and was awarded the Salute to Excellence Award from the National Restaurant Association.
• Judith Wadding, Butler County Community College — Wadding created the Early Childhood Education program. She established agreements with other schools and created a resource library. She also serves as a club adviser and an academic adviser.
• Stacey Steele, Slippery Rock University — Steele, a professor in the music department, advises the SRU Chapter of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educator's Association. She is a member of the National Flute Association and worked on national conferences. She has been awarded the SRU Presidential Award for Excellence for Teaching.
