Each year, the Park City Education Foundation celebrates one peer selected educator from each school to win the Excellent Educator Award. The revelry includes, a jazz band, family and friends, a big cake and lots of accolades for the winners.
Long time Park City resident Jim Doilney and his son, Max arrived at the High School with bouquets in hand. Doilney started the Excellent Educator award program in 1996 as a tribute to his mother who was a teacher. It’s evolved in the 23 years to include other underwriters from the community. This year, the Louis Family is sponsoring the awards. Max has been participating in the ceremony for years.
“Max will do that reading. And he is their oldest grandson. No, their second oldest grandson and they were very, very diligent as educators making sure we were well educated.”
“These are each….well there are two teachers who are being awarded today at the high school. One bouquet per teacher. We used to come back from college to participate.”
Jennifer Billow Associate Director over Communications and Development for the Park City Education foundation, Jennifer Billow says most people who win the award are stunned.
“We surprise the winner which is the best part. It's just shock, and you know tears and joy and most of the time it's just sort of a surprise, like people are really stunned. A speech is read by one of the Lewis family or the Doilney family who originally started the award.”
Billow says the Doilney family continues to sponsor the Sarah and Steven Doilney award each year. Every senior has the chance to nominate the teacher that had the most influence in their school career.
“So, it can be a teacher anywhere from K through 12. I mean mostly it's always been a high school teacher. That is also surprise and Jim still sponsors that award and Sarah Doilney was his mother. So that's the honor.”
The Party Band playing Dixie land jazz accompanied the procession through the hallways of each of Park City’s seven schools. Students and teachers gathered to celebrate as the Louis and Doilney families recognized the Excellent Educator recipients.
This year’s Excellent Educator Awards go to Park City High School Science teacher Mary Sue Purzycki and Treasure Mountain Junior High School Special Ed teacher, Mary Kay Becker.
Mcpolin Elementary honored DLI, 4th grade teacher, Rodrigo Rivas. He’s from Mexico and is the first Spanish Language recipient of the award.
Counselor Allyson McGuire was selected for Trailside Elementary highlighting the work she does with students to build mindfulness.
Park City native and 1st grade teacher, Kara Cook received the award for Parley’s Park Elementary School.
Sheri Barsky is a reading specialist and was celebrated at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School.
Ecker Hill Middle School Technology Coach, Summer Marshal helps fellow teachers with technical support, and she oversees the Gen Yes Class, which develops student tech leaders for the school.
The 2019 senior class nominated Janice Jones for the Sarah and Stephen Doliney award. She is the Chemistry teacher and instructs students in: Honors Chem, AP Chem and O-Chem.
