Educators honored for excellence
BUTLER TWP — Here are the winners of the 2009 Red Apple Awards presented Wednesday morning at the United Way of Butler County annual breakfast.
One recipient was chosen from nominations from each school district in the county. Additionally, a winner was selected from the Butler Vocational-Technical School, Slippery Rock University and Butler County Community College.
Julie Dandoy retired from teaching after 32 years. She taught second grade students at Emily Brittain Elementary School.Dandoy also provided an introductory look for students into the performing arts. For several years, she produced a stage production of a Shakespearean play with full costumes and scenery.Two decades ago, she started the Butler Schools Wellness Program for the Butler School District. Since the program's inception, she taught up to five exercise classes each week. She also served as lead teacher for the school district for several years, teaching teachers about new strategies and curriculum.She is an active member of the National Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts, the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts, and the Butler Education Association.She co-founded a habitat club that has students work on projects that improve schoolyards. She is the co-chair for the Western PA Conservancy Gardening Project, a member of the Shade Tree Committee and a member of the Butler Garden Club.
In just eight years of teaching, Renee Steele made an impact on her students as a science teacher and track and field coach at Karns City High School.She has worked as a student teacher adviser and a mentor teacher, and she is a representative for the union council. Recently, she has been working with the school and community in the Positive Rewards Program, which honors students with outstanding grades, no disciplinary referrals and good moral character.
Tamarra Mitchell, who has taught for five years at the Mars Elementary School, started a program to link fourth grade students with second grade students to provide peer help for the younger students.For the past three years, she has served as curriculum leader and district initiative collaborator. She also voluntarily organized a schoolwide science fair and helped organize "Author Day."She also volunteers as the head cheerleading coach for the third, fourth and fifth graders in the Seneca Valley and Mars Junior Football Associations, and serves as the coach for the Competitive Cheerleading Squad at Mars.
Sherri Moore has been a kindergarten teacher in the Moniteau School District for 33 years. At Dassa McKinney Elementary, she is highly regarded for her unique teaching style and supreme creativity.She is famous for donning costumes on holidays and special occasions. Throughout the years, she created countless take-home packets, lessons and activities.Moore is an active member and volunteer at her church. She and her husband own and operate a craft business that produces rough cut benches. They also donate many of their benches to organizations to help with fundraising.Previously, she headed a support group for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and their parents.This summer, she has volunteered to work one-on-one with a late blooming student.
For 23 years, Bonnie DeHart has taught in the Seneca Valley School District. Whether teaching first grade, sixth grade, or serving as a TELLS teacher for students at Evans City Elementary and Connoquenessing Elementary schools, she has sought to meet the needs of all her students.She is a member of the Language Arts Committee, the Evans City Elementary School Steering Committee, the Science/Health Committee, the Seneca Valley Transitional Planning Committee and the teachers union.She has volunteered with the Girl Scouts, 4-H, the Pennsylvania State Holstein Association, the Evans City BPW, and various church functions and activities. She is a member of the Butler County Dairy Princess and Pennsylvania State Dairy Princess groups.
Anthony Consbruck has been in the Slippery Rock School District for 25 years.Known by many as "Coach," Consbruck has been head coach for the cross country and track and field teams at Slippery Rock High School for nearly two decades.He teaches science and advanced ecology at the high school.An ardent environmentalist, he founded the Student Alliance for Green Efforts, which implemented a recycling program for the school district. He also was an original organizer and five-year president of the Citizen's Environmental Association of the Slippery Rock Area.For eight years, he has organized, educated and sponsored student teams in the Conservation District's Envirothon.In 2004, Consbruck was recognized for his dedication to the environment by being named Environmental Educator of the Year by the Audubon Society.
Karen Hickey has taught kindergarten in the South Butler School District since 1988. She previously taught at Clinton Elementary and Winfield Elementary schools and now teaches at South Butler Primary School.She is a mentor teacher for new staff, a building representative for the South Butler County Education Association and a department chairwoman.In the community, she is a volunteer with the Reality Tour Drug Prevention Program and is the elder overseeing Christian Education at the Jefferson Center Presbyterian Church.She has served on the board of directors of the Butler County Humane Society, fundraised for the Irish Setter Rescue, and was one of the original founders and fundraisers for Rainbow Animal Refuge.
David Peters is an auto body teacher at the Butler County Vocational-Technical School.This year, Peters went to Chicago to become a certified collision repair instructor. His certification enables his students to earn points, which are necessary for students when they enter the job market.At the vo-tech, he paints city police and city fire vehicles as a service to the community. His class also has been a top collector of food for food drives for many years running.Peters also coaches Butler's eighth grade girls basketball team.
As a nursing instructor, Karen Aul educates first-year nursing students at Butler County Community College.She has served on several committees including the nursing faculty organization, the program evaluation committee and the curriculum revision committee.In the community, she has helped at Summit Township and Center Township elementary schools.She organized monthly support meetings for 11 years for people and families of those suffering from fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome. She has volunteered for the American Cancer Society and contributed to the Butler Memorial Hospital Community Education Department.She volunteers at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Trinity Lutheran Church and Rider Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Richael Barger-Anderson has been teaching in the Special Education Department of Slippery Rock University for seven years.She is a student adviser for more than 65 students each year.In 2006, she was presented with the SRU Academic Outstanding Adviser of the Year Award.Barger-Anderson also has been the practicum supervisor and coordinator for seniors, which includes making field placements for more than 50 students in school districts.She consults with more than 30 school districts as a principal owner of the Keystone Educational Consulting Group.
