Mrs. Laurie HugerThe Lewis Award Committee is pleased to announce that Mrs. Laurie Huger has been selected as the 2018-2019 Recipient of the Monsignor Gerald Lawrence Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. Mrs. Huger is in her twenty-fifth year of teaching with the last seventeen years as a Third Grade Teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Raleigh.
Mrs. Huger feels that teachers striving for excellence in Catholic schools should
“Let your students see you experiment and let them help you. Always have a plan A and B, your students deserve to learn from a prepared teacher. Experiential learning is what they will remember the most. Tell them stories about yourself because this helps them discern their vocation.”
In one letter of recommendation for the Award the parent of a former student wrote:
“Laurie’s work is work that matters. Whether it’s encouraging a student struggling with third grade math, coaching a middle school team through a nail-biter, or hosting a dinner of 100 athletes willing to learn about healthy relationships and what love is all about, she is having an impact on her community, one student, one athlete, one team and one tournament at a time… She embodies ‘message’, ‘community’, ‘service’ and ‘liturgy’ in everything she does.”
Beyond the classroom Mrs. Huger exhibits her exemplary characteristics through involvement not only in school, but also in the parish and broader community. Her activities include: membership in the Raleigh Chapter of the International Reading Association; inaugural member of the OLL Community Garden; volunteer coordinator for NC Catholics Volunteer; six year member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Council; founder and coach of the middle school girls soccer team; coordinator for the annual Summer Lacrosse Camp; co-chair of the annual One Love Lacrosse Play-day to benefit the One Love Foundation; and, host for the Christmas Lacrosse Clinic, with proceeds that benefit Catholic Paris Outreach.
Mrs. Huger received a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia; and, a Master of Arts in Education for the Hearing Impaired from Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
The Lewis Award will be presented to Mrs. Huger at a special Liturgy on April 10 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Congratulations, Mrs. Huger!
In January the Lewis Award Committee announced the Finalists for the 2018-2019 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching. During the month of February, the Lewis Award Committee will observe the three Finalists in their classrooms and each of them will be featured on this website. If you would like to read more about these exceptional teachers click here.
Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Huger’s Third Grade class is working with adjectives in a variety of modalities.
[slideshow_deploy id=’1599′]
Mrs. Julie Cummins, St. Patrick Catholic School, Fayetteville
Mrs. Laurie Huger, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Raleigh
Mr. Homer Spring, Infant of Prague Catholic School, Jacksonville
The Recipient of the Award will be selected following February onsite classroom visitations and interviews by the Committee.
Mrs. Julie Cummins has taught First Grade at St. Patrick Catholic School in Fayetteville for the past 14 years. When asked to describe what it takes to be an outstanding educator Mrs. Cummins responded that
“a positive relationship is needed between teacher and student to foster growth both academically and emotionally. I believe in differentiated instruction and….finding the best learning style/environment for each of my students. It takes… persistence and reflection, but it’s so rewarding when students meet their full potential.”
Mrs. Cummins actively participates in the Cumberland County Autism Society and the Triangle Down Syndrome Network. She also has assumed leadership roles as Pre-K to Fourth Grade Team Leader; Student Council Moderator; long time Parent Teacher Organization Board Member; Book-It Club Coordinator; and, Program Facilitator for the Parish Newly Married Program.
Mrs. Laurie Huger has 24 years of experience with the past 17 as the Third Grade teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Raleigh. Mrs. Huger describes teaching as a
“vocation (where you must) want to create lasting relationships with students, faculty, and families. Continually stepping out of your comfort zone will keep you fresh! Being a team player is essential to being an integral part of your school, professional learning communities, and student support teams”.
Mrs. Huger started and has coached OLL middle school lacrosse team for 14 years and has an annual lacrosse clinic for middle school students to host younger students, donations of food collected at the clinic benefit Catholic Parish Outreach. Mrs. Huger is co-chair of the annual One Love Lacrosse Playday to benefit One Love Foundation, which focuses on teaching students about healthy relationships; facilitated workshops to educate high school students about healthy relationships; a member of the school technology committee; a volunteer coordinator for NC Catholics Volunteer (rebuilding homes in Tarboro following Hurricane Matthew); and, a parish council member for 6 years.
Mr. Homer Spring has a teaching career that spans 40 years with the last 5 as the middle school mathematics teacher at Infant of Prague Catholic School, Jacksonville. Mr. Spring believes
“teaching is a gift (that I use) to connect math to my students’ everyday lives. Lessons incorporate real-world applications… When I can find what ‘triggers’ an individual student’s interest I use that to make math relevant to them”.
Mr. Spring has implemented multiple enrichment activities for IOP students, including the Catholic Math League; Middle School MathCounts coach; Elementary MathCounts Coach; Science Olympiad Coach/Advisor; and History Bee. He volunteers to teach technology electives; is instrumental in updating and troubleshooting technology in classrooms and parish office; a Eucharistic Minister; a safe Environment Trainer; Jacksonville Planning Advisory Board Chair; and past Chair of Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
