Educational Support

Our goal is to support public school employees by recognizing exemplary professionals currently in the field and future professional educators.

The Lauretta Woodson Award recognizes excellence in education.  Two awards are presented annually to an outstanding educator and a support professional.

Our 2019 recipients come from the Upper Dauphin School District:

The Educator Award was presented to Mark Deitrich, who, for almost thirty years, has taught agriculture at Upper Dauphin Area High School.  In addition to expanding the district's course offerings in agriculture, Mr. Dietrich has worked to make the school's FFA one of the best in the state.  Mr. Dietrich is also involved in school governance and is a trusted resource for district teachers according to Evan Williams, Upper Dauphin Superintendent.

The Support Professional Award winner was Sally Lucas,  a teacher's assistant for almost thirty years.  According to Superintendent Williams, every principal and teacher with whom she has worked has remarked about her dedication, diligence, and ability.  Having Mrs. Lucas in a classroom is as good as having a second teacher.  She has always done a great job.

We also administer the Educational Support Grant.  This is a competitive grant awarded to one school employee to be used for an innovative program to enhance the school's curriculum. 

On February 5, 2020, Chapter Co-presidents Bob and Kathy Hamera attended the Steelton-Highspire School District Board Meeting to present this year's Education Grant winner, Elayne Thomas, with a check for $400.00.  

Ms. Thomas, an elementary Reading Specialist in the district, plans to use the grant to purchase decodable readers for the students in her building.  These books will supplement the reading series used by the school.  Books will be kept in her room where teachers can sign them out for use in small group instruction.  Congratulations, Elayne. 

Chapter scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors planning to major in the field of education.  In 2018 two $1,000 scholarships were awarded:

September Nguyen, a graduate of Central Dauphin East High School will begin her studies at Messiah College in Elementary Education, with a minor in Special Education.

Nakiah Baker, a graduate of Halifax High School will be entering Messiah College where she will pursue a Secondary English and ESL Education degree.