IOWA STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
For Release: October 16, 2007
Contact: Lana Oppenheim Schlapkohl, 515-471-8026

Central-Decatur elementary teacher is honored

Excellence in Education Awards thank teachers who make a difference

Laura Craft, a veteran teacher at South Elementary School in Leon, has been named as one of four runners up for the 2007 Excellence in Education Award sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA), Iowa Farm Bureau, WHO Radio, and KDSM Fox 17. She was selected from among nearly 100 nominations submitted by co-workers, students and community members because of the difference they make every day in the lives of Iowa's school children.

"This award was created to give Iowans an opportunity to recognize and say thank you to teachers who have touched their lives," said Linda Nelson, president of the ISEA. "Each of the nominations was powerful and heartwarming and each had a common theme -- teachers literally change the lives of the students they teach."

She was nominated for the honor by Tonya Lindsey whose daughter, Mary, flourished in Craft's second-grade classroom last year. But Craft will be long remembered by the Lindsey family for more than just her teaching excellence.

It was a typical school day in December of 2006 and Craft was writing on the marker board with her back to the class. That's when a piece of hard candy Mary was eating became lodged in her throat. Choking and barely able to breathe Mary stood up from her desk just as Craft turned around. Seeing that Mary was in distress, Craft immediately sprang into action and began administering the Heimlich maneuver. It took several compressions, but the candy was soon dislodged.

"The care given to Mary by Mrs. Craft following the incident was remarkable," Lindsey wrote in her nomination paper. "She stayed by Mary's side the rest of the day just to make sure she was doing okay."

Lindsey, who herself was one of Craft's students, says that a thousand-word essay cannot begin to explain how much of a positive influence Craft has had on her family.

"She was the teacher everybody wanted 25 years ago and she still is today," Lindsey said. "It is an honor and a blessing that we have been the second generation fortunate enough to be touched by her."

Now in its ninth year, the Excellence In Education Award is designed to honor the countless educators across the state who go the extra mile and make a difference in the lives of their students each and every day. Nominations were solicited from Aug. 22 through Sept. 28, and forms were available on the ISEA Web site as well as at local county Farm Bureau offices.

"Iowa Farm Bureau members support outstanding teachers like Laura Craft, who give education a good name in this state," said Craig Lang, president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. "That's why we are proud to partner with the ISEA to honor teachers like Laura, who put their students first.  It's that kind of dedication and commitment that will give our students a head start in this world and hopefully start on a lifetime journey of learning," said Lang.

Craft will receive her award along with a gift card courtesy of Staples during a gala awards ceremony and banquet on Monday, Oct. 29, at the Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines, also courtesy of the Iowa Farm Bureau.

All of the nominees, along with the individuals who nominated them, have been invited to attend the awards banquet at no charge. The Iowa Farm Bureau will also provide free tours of the Iowa Hall of Pride, which is located within the Hy-Vee Hall.

This year's Excellence in Education Award winner is Blake Hammond, a sixth-grade science teacher at Merrill Middle School in Des Moines.

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The ISEA is a professional organization made up of more than 32,000 educators who are dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!