Five employees of the Lapeer Community Schools have been honored for their exemplary service to students and the district with Distinguished Service and Distinguished Educator awards.
Superintendent Debbie Thompson announced the awards during the regular Board of Education meeting on April 1, 2010 at the Administration & Services Center.
The awards are given to “non-certified support staff and administrative staff for exemplary job skills, high personal qualities and dedicated service to the District,” according to District officials.
Karen Rowden, secretary to the Board of Education and administrative assistant to the superintendent, was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Mrs. Rowden has held the position for eight years but has been with Lapeer Schools for 24 years, starting as a Media Para Pro and serving as a secretary in several departments before moving into her current role.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a recipient’s relationship with students and staff, exemplary representation of the District within the community, consistently excellent work performance and integrity and concern for fellow employees.
The District also honored four people with Distinguished Educator Awards. These honor the recipients for their ability to relate to and inspire students, creativity in teaching, genuine concern for students and exemplary dedication and integrity. The recipients of these awards are:
• Steve Kern, a Lapeer West High School business teacher. He has been with the District for 26 years, with 13 years in his current role. He also has been a teacher at Lapeer East High School and Zemmer and White junior high schools.
• Lisa Loachridge, a Seaton Elementary School fifth-grade ELA, science and math teacher. She has been with Lapeer for 16 years, with 12 years in her current position. She previously taught Special Education at Seaton.
• Janis McKeachie, a Lapeer East High School English teacher. She has been with the district for 26 years, with 19 in her current job. She also has taught English with the Lapeer Adult Education and Spanish and English at White and Zemmer junior high schools and East and West high schools.
• Greg Piontkowski, a District school psychologist who has been with Lapeer for 15 years and has spent a total of 30 years in education.
A committee comprised of one member each from the AFSCME, Central Office Administration, L.E.S.P., LSDAA, LTA and SEIU – Cafeteria, selects recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. A committee of eight educators and three administrators selects recipients of the Distinguished Educator Award. Recipients are selected from nominations made by District staff.
