Two Blue Valley teachers recently received a shoutout for their creativity in the classroom.
Last week, the Blue Valley Educational Foundation surprised two teachers with the awarding of this year’s “Innovative Educator Awards.”
The awards each came with $1,250 in grant funding.
Both winners were high school teachers
- Blue Valley CAPS veterinary medicine instructor Kelley Tuel earned her award for inspiring students to pursue their passions for animals, according to a district announcement, calling her the “driving force” behind the district career center’s veterinary medicine program.
- Blue Valley North High School biology teacher Chris Ollig also won for his “approach to instruction that fosters creativity in scientific study,” along with his sponsorship of BV North’s Environmental Club.
- Ollig also sponsored the high school’s Prairie Project, a student-led effort to create a habitat of native Kansas plants near the school.
BVEF gives these awards each year
- The grants are funded by donors Ken Selzer and Deb Grimes, both of whom are parents of former BV North students.
- The Innovative Educator Award splits a $2,500 award between two chosen teachers.
- The grants are given to teachers who the foundation feels have displayed “innovative and creative teaching methods.”
The foundation also recently awarded another $15,000 grant
- Last week, the foundation awarded a team of educators at Blue Valley Academy, the district’s alternative high school, with $15,000 to kickstart a new interactive space they’re calling Studio 151.
- The foundation did so as part of its spring Women’s Giving Circle event, where members of the foundation hear three pitches from school faculty wanting to implement something new for students, with one being chosen for the award.
- Studio 151 at Blue Valley Academy will serve as space for students to pick up skills in auto mechanics, construction and other trade fields.
Go deeper: New Blue Valley auto tech ‘studio’ space wins $15K grant
