Three outstanding Upper Arlington educators — Upper Arlington High School intervention specialist Steve Colahan, Hastings Middle School health teacher Allison Tomlin and Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School reading specialist Carrie Williams — will each receive a $1,000 grant from the newly established Joanie Dugger Educators of the Year Fund.
The $1,000 grant will provide funding for projects of their choice to enhance the education of their students during the 2020-2021 school year.
Established in 2020, The Joanie Dugger Educators of the Year Fund will support three educators annually who have been recognized by Upper Arlington Schools as “Educators of the Year.” The three honorees will include one elementary school educator, one middle school educator, and one high school educator.
The fund was created in loving memory of Joanie Dugger by her husband, Glen, and three children, Sarah Jane (Germain), Ted and Abby. Joanie retired as executive director of the Upper Arlington Education Foundation in 2018 after 17 years of dedication to “Enhancing What Matters Most.”
“I knew that I wanted to establish a fund in Joanie’s memory, but it took me and my family a little time to come up with an idea because, if you knew Joanie, you know that she would not want any focus on her, but rather on the educators who are making a difference in the lives of students,” said Glen Dugger.
“I had the privilege of working beside Joanie at the foundation for many years and am so excited to launch this new fund in her memory,” said Alice Finley, UA+Ed Executive Director. “I know she would like knowing that outstanding teachers in our district are receiving extra financial resources to provide their students with a program, project or experience beyond the district’s budget.”
These teachers will be celebrated at the UA+Ed’s annual meeting in 2021 and will have an opportunity to share with donors and trustees how this grant impacted their students.