D153 Dockwiler Award - Richardson 2019-10-15 021
Local News

Dockweiler Award winners show results from hard work

Former District 153 board member Tom Dockweiler presented copies of two books, “Throw Like a Girl” and “Boys in the Boat” to the three winners of this year’s Dockweiler Award, presented at the board’s Oct. 15 meeting.

Former District 153 board member Tom Dockweiler presented copies of two books, “Throw Like a Girl” and “Boys in the Boat” to the three winners of this year’s Dockweiler Award, presented at the board’s Oct. 15 meeting.

The books offer inspiring stories that underscore the importance of hard work in pursuit of difficult goals, a message Dockweiler was known for advocating while he was a board member.

Board president Shelly Marks reminded the audience why the award was named for Dockweiler.
 

  Tom Dockweiler discusses
  the value of hard work in
  reaching goals. He was
  at the District 153 board
  meeting Oct. 15 to help
  present this year’s
  Dockweiler Awards. 
(Eric
  Crump/H-F Chronicle)
 

“He always encouraged us to continue to raise the bar,” she said. “More importantly, he recognized every measure of a student’s success is not through their report card or their grades. Much of the measure of a student’s success is through the growth they make each hear. So when he retired from the board we decided an appropriate way to honor Tom’s service would be with the TD award, recognizing student growth and achievement.”

Dockweiler said he was honored to have the award named for him, but he said the credit for the district’s pursuit of excellence precedes him.

“This district has tried to raise the bar long before me,” he said. “This district wouldn’t be where it is if it didn’t value quality education. This town wouldn’t be where it is if the town wasn’t willing to finance quality education. Quality education is not cheap.”

This year’s recipients of the award were second grader Natalee Nunnery, fifth grader Jonathan Richardson and seventh grader Zay Simmons.

Natalee was unable to attend the meeting, but Willow School Principal Melissa Lawson offered comments about why she was selected for the honor.

“Natalee showed tremendous growth during her time at Willow,” Lawson said, noting that Natalee joined the school after the school year had started and still managed to improve her test scores dramatically. 

“What we hope for is a little over 200 for second graders. Her growth was over 400 points, which is really amazing,” Lawson said. “Natalee always works hard and has a positive attitude. She makes the most of every opportunity to learn and every situation with which she is faced. We are proud of how much she accomplished and know great things will come for her.”
 

  In front, Churchill School
  student Jonathan
  Richardson receives a
  Dockweiler Award from
  District 153 board president
  Shelly Marks while, behind,
  his father, Saeed
  Richardson; Tom
  Dockweiler; his mother,
  Anne Richardson;
  Superintendent Dale
  Mitchell; and Churchill
  Principal Nikki Kerr look on. 
  
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
 

Churchill School Principal Nikki Kerr introduced Jonathan, noting that his reading and math test scores improved more than 400 points.

“That is tremendous growth for a student,” she said. “He is kind to others, a hard worker and a good friend.  We are so proud of his accomplishments.”

James Hart School Principal Scott McAlister introduced Zay Enna Simmons, a seventh grade student.

“The first time I met her was just a few days into her 6th grade school year. I was out ‘Painting the Sidewalks’ with chalk to welcome the students back to school and Zay came up, introduced herself, and asked me if I’d like her help,” he said. “She was so friendly and had a big smile, two characteristics she stills maintains on a daily basis.”
 

  Dockweiler Award winner
  Zay Enna Simmons, front,
  poses with the award
  certificate presented to her
  by District 153 board
  president Shelly Marks,
  right. With Zay are family
  members Zhen Simmons,
  Leslie Madison, Samantha
  Simmons and Devon
  Matticx. In the back
  row are Tom Dockweiler,
  James Hart School
  Principal Scott McAlister
  and Superintendent Dale
  Mitchell.
 (Eric Crump/
  H-F Chronicle)
 

Academically, Zay made big leaps, with her reading scores rising 39 percent in one year and her math scores increasing 41 percent, McAlister said.

Marks was so impressed with Zay that she encouraged her to think about running for public office, possibly school board, after she turns 18. 

“We’re going to need some great board members in six years,” Marks said. “You are an impressive young lady.”

Dockweiler said the students’ progress was evidence that working harder will pay off. 

“I think we can all guarantee that you will never be sorry for working a little harder,” he said.

News by email

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Free weekly newsletter

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Most read stories this week