On Monday, June 27, the DeKalb County Community Foundation and DeKalb County Regional Office of Education recognized local educators and support staff during the annual Excellence in Education Awards reception. Recipients were from Genoa-Kingston, Hiawatha, and Sycamore school districts. Over the past 23 years, the event has recognized 114 educators and distributed $114,000 in awards.

2022 Excellence in Education Award recipients from left: Cindy Lauritzen, Drayton Eggleson, Karmen Ewald, Yvonne Johnson (donor), Lisa Winters, and Nicole Stuckert.

The Excellence in Education Awards recognizes teachers, administrators, and support staff who have inspired a love of learning in students and play an active role in their schools and communities in DeKalb County. Support for the awards comes through an endowed Fund at the Community Foundation created by retired Sycamore elementary school teacher Yvonne Johnson. Winners receive a check for $1,000 and an engraved clock. Thank you to Yvonne Johnson for her generosity and desire to recognize quality educators in our community!

Recipients of the 2022 Excellence in Education Awards are: 

• Pre-K – 5th Grade Teacher: Lisa Winters, Instructional Math Coach, Sycamore School District
• 6th – 8th Grade Teacher: Karmen Ewald, 7^th Grade English & Language Arts Teacher, Genoa-Kingston School District
• 9th – 12th Grade Teacher: Drayton Eggleson, Choir Director, Sycamore School District
• Support Staff: Cindy Lauritzen, Food Service Director, Hiawatha School District
• Administration: Nicole Stuckert, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services/CSBO, Sycamore School District