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Howard Elementary School teacher Lynda Fickes wins Ike Friedman Leadership Award
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Lynda Fickes, a veteran first-grade teacher at Howard Elementary School, has won a 2009 Ike Friedman Leadership Award from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation. Fickes has taught first grade at Howard for 39 years, Principal Julie Schnitzler said.
"Mrs. Fickes is more committed than ever to assist our students to be successful contributors to our community," Schnitzler said.
Fickes is one of four teachers from Nebraska and western Iowa who received the award. Each teacher received a $1,000 stipend to purchase items for their classrooms.
In her nomination letter, Schnitzler wrote that Fickes not only works to see that students learn reading, writing, and math, but also life skills and character traits. Fickes volunteers to have the most challenging students in her classroom.
Fickes received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in elementary education curriculum from Doane College.
For the past five years, Fickes has recruited volunteers from her church to be "buddies" for her students who donít live close to their grandparents. During the 2008-09 school year, 11 adults built relationships with the first-graders, Schnitzler said.
"I appreciate her willingness to share with inexperienced teachers her " 'tricks' of the trade," Schnitzler wrote.
The principal noted that Fickes has seen Howard's student demographics change during 39 years she has worked at the school. For the 2008-09 school year, 88 percent of Howard's students qualified for free or reduced price meals, 65 percent were English Language Learners, and 76 percent were minority students.
The Ike Friedman Teacher Leadership Awards recognize K-12 teachers who possess the vision and creativity to motivate others to meet the educational challenges of the future and inspire peers and students alike to accept greater responsibility and new challenges.
The award is named in honor of Isadore "Ike" Friedman. Before his death in 1991, Friedman was an Omaha business leader, served as president of Borsheim's Jewelry, and was a member of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Board of Governors.
For more information, contact: Julie Schnitzler, principal, Howard Elementary School, 502 W. Ninth St., Grand Island, (308) 385-5916, jschnitz@gips.org
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