Faculty/Staff Awards

The Mary and Jack Dinos Middle School Master Teacher Chair

In 1994, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dinos, realizing the value of excellence in teaching, established this endowed fund to provide an annual supplement to a Middle School faculty member who is a master teacher. The recipient is selected on the basis of having superior classroom teaching skills, the ability to motivate students, and a deep commitment to the teaching profession. The committee to select the recipient is composed of the Headmaster, the Middle School Principal, and past recipients of the award.

Past recipients: Becky Spotts, Sam McCarthy, Marc Mallet, Nancy Walton, Juli Fleming, Robin Fuller, Andy Sayles, Ben Posten

The Loridans Academic Fellowship Award

Recognizing the value of excellent teaching and as an encouragement to a "master teacher" in the Upper School, the Loridans Foundation established this fund in 1992. The recipient is selected on the basis of having excellent classroom skills, the ability to motivate students, and having a keen interest in and commitment to the teaching profession.

Past recipients: Bob Braddy, Ken Rau, Randy Murphy, Mike Sanders

The Loudermilk Family Foundation Award

First presented in 2004, the Loudermilk Family Foundation Award recognizes as individual varsity coach who serves as a role model for other coaches, players, parents, and fans and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, a well-balanced approach to life, sportsmanship, and cooperation within the community. The nominee must be a member of the school staff (full or part time), must have served Lovett as an interscholastic coach for at least five years, must be a current varsity coach, and must be returning the following year.

Past recipients: Jim Glasser, Chuck Melito, George Pribish, Steve Allen, Mary Buczek, Mike Muschamp, Ricky Davis

The Charles E. Oakley Service Award

In 1997, The Lovett School established an award to honor Charles Oakley who, in 36 years of service to the school, demonstrated uncommon skill and tireless generosity of spirit to members of the entire Lovett community. The recipient of the Oakley Service Award is that person determined most closely to follow Charlie's example of dedicated, highly effective service to others. All employees who have been with the school for five years are eligible for consideration, and any staff member may place the name of a colleague in nomination. The selection committee is composed of the Headmaster, the Business Manager, and the Directors of Athletics, Fine Arts, and Development.

Past recipients: Charlie Oakley, Miriam Taylor, Rob Carder, Jerry Beadle, Mike Lanning, Greg Hamrick, Jeff Rountree, Vikki Harris, Sam Evins, Meredith Statler, Beverly Hamrick, Sandy Watson, Lynn Elliott, Hershel Moon

The Surdyk Award

A Lovett family made a memorial contribution to the school's endowment which generates funding for an annual award to be presented to a Lovett faculty member or administrator who has provided an exceptionally high degree of individual attention to and concern for students in all areas of school life. The recipient must be actively involved in classroom teaching. The Surdyk Award Committee, consisting of the Headmaster, the Principals, and the Academic Dean, meets each spring to select the person who best exemplifies these characteristics. Any faculty or staff member may recommend a nominee to the committee. Neither length of employment at Lovett nor intentions to return for the coming year are considerations. While the use of the award is unrestricted, the donors are hopeful that some of the proceeds can assist with the recipient's development of the craft of teaching.

Past recipients: Sam Rothermel, Lloyd Fonvielle, Sandy Sturgeon, Tim Shafer, Betty Smith, Bill Holleman, Fred Rawe, Sam McCarthy, Lynn Elliott, Steve Allen, Linda Drake, Clara Traver, Jeff Stachura, Ann Swartz, Marianne Beverly, Jill Melito, Julie Guthrie Smith, Stacie Penland, Alice Empire, Sue Copps, Mary Spencer, Angela Morris-Long

The Leonard and Carla Wood Endowed Master Teacher Chair

In 1994, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Wood, realizing the value of excellence in teaching, established an Endowed Master Teacher Chair to provide an annual supplement to a Lower School faculty member who is a master teacher. The recipient is selected on the basis of having superior classroom teaching skills, the ability to motivate students, and a deep commitment to the teaching profession. The committee to select this recipient is composed of the Lower School Principal, Assistant Principal, and the past recipients of the award.

Past recipients: Edi Houghton, Connie Braddy, Susan Ralls, Andrea Morgan, Trish Carter, Stephanie Bullock

The Woodward Awards for Excellence in Teaching

The Lovett School received a grant from the Woodward Fund in 1983 to establish the Woodward Awards for Excellence in Teaching. The recipients are recognized by colleagues as master teachers who improve the achievement of students in significant ways and go beyond the normal commitment of time and energy in the pursuit of excellence. The Woodward Awards committee consists of the recipients of the award for the past three years. Teachers and administrators may make nominations to the committee. The committee selects a teacher from each school division and one at large, whom they determine to be the most qualified. A Woodward Award teacher must be a full-time teacher who is returning for the next year.

Past recipients:

The Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award

Established anonymously through the gift of parents of alumni, the annual Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award will recognize an exceptionally talented classroom teacher whose teaching methods, knowledge, and compassionate spirit have made a very significant impression on students. Award recipients will receive a personal stipend, as well as a stipend for classroom use. All alumni who graduated five years ago or longer from Lovett are eligible to nominate a teacher who best represents the aforementioned criteria.

Past recipients: Jay Freer '78, Ken Rau, Robin Fuller, Dick Hall, Dan Dalke

The Beth and Ray Chenault Fine Arts Teaching Award

In support of the strong tradition of exceptional teaching and fine arts at Lovett, the Fine Arts Teaching Award was established in 2007, thanks to the generosity of Lovett parents Richard and Kathy Lee, to reward excellent fine arts instructors and thus help attract and retain the best fine arts faculty possible. The recipient is nominated by the Fine Arts faculty.

Past recipients: Beth Chenault, Karey Walter, Anne Page, Stutz Wimmer

The Mathews Family Distinguished Teaching Fellowship Fund

The Mathews Family Fellowship was established through the generosity of Jane and George Mathews. The fund is designed to reward exceptional Lower School instructors and support the goals of attracting, developing, and retaining the best faculty possible. The ideal Mathews Family Fellowship recipient would be an experienced Lower School teacher who demonstrates a passion for lifelong learning, professionalism, and creative teaching skills, while serving as a role model for both students and faculty.

Past recipients: Jeff Morton

The Stephen Award for Excellence in Teaching

Made possible through a gift from the James R. and Lana B. Stephen Family Fund, this award honors junior Upper School faculty who define the present and future excellence of the school. In creating this fund, the family of Lana and Jim Stephen hopes to acknowledge educators who cultivate lifelong learners. The ideal recipient will foster curiosity, creativity, and intuition through adaptive instruction.

Past recipients: Jonathan Newman, Emily Anderson

The Kahn Family Distinguished Teaching Fellowship

Established by Jennifer and David Kahn '81, this award is considered the highest recognition of a teacher in the Middle School at Lovett. The award recipient is a full-time teacher who best exemplifies a passion and love for teaching, is an example of a life-long learner, is highly respected and admired for devotion to young people, and demonstrates excellence in his.her crafts as a teacher. The Kahn Fellow has a positive and warm working relationship with other faculty and staff members, contributes to the success of and supports the entire school program, believes in and promotes Lovett's mission of developing the "whole child," inspires individuals to realize their full potential as students and human beings, and is a positive and supportive leader whose influence guides and encourages students and peers. The award is given every five years.