Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
From now until Dec. 1, the Dekko Foundation is accepting nominations for its Teach to Reach recognition.
These nominations are the starting point for the Foundation's annual teacher recognition given at the end of the school year at northeast Indiana high schools.
"One of our challenges with Teach to Reach is getting students to make their nomination," said Kimberly Schroeder, Dekko Foundation program officer. "With plans for college and technical school, internships and maybe even a bit of senioritis, the nominations are something of a hard sell."
That's where Schroeder is hoping parents will come in. "Having a child graduate from high school is an important milestone," she said. "Families can celebrate that milestone in a special way by thanking someone who helped the graduate along the way. We hope that parents will talk to their student about this opportunity, and help them nominate a special teacher."
"This year, we're making a strong effort to get male seniors involved," Schroeder continues. "We've beefed up our advertising with the slogan, 'It's not just for chicks.' We hope that we can encourage more guys to talk about who has been important to their education."
Teach to Reach nominations are available in high school guidance offices across the Dekko Foundation's grant-making areas including: DeKalb, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and Whitley Counties. Students who want to nominate an educator should pick up a form and write a brief letter of nomination. It is important to include the words and actions that made the teacher memorable, and how those things impacted the student's learning. Letters of nomination must be received by school guidance offices no later than Dec. 1.
After all nominations are submitted, unbiased committees of young people from another community will review all of a school's letters and choose outstanding educators for special recognition. Educators honored by Teach to Reach receive a recognition piece which includes their name and letter of nomination. They also receive a $1,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation to be used in the school or classroom of their choice.
The Dekko Foundation has honored more than 600 outstanding educators in the past 11 years who have made an indelible impact on students' lives.
