Tri-County Citizen

New Lothrop teacher wins VFW Teacher of the Year Award




Ellen Kasik (center) has received Teacher of the Year recognition from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at the local and district levels. Courtesy Photo

Ellen Kasik (center) has received Teacher of the Year recognition from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at the local and district levels. Courtesy Photo

NEW LOTHROP – Ellen Kasik, a fifth and sixth grade reading teacher at New Lothrop Area Public Schools, has been named the VFW Teacher of the Year.

Kasik, who has taught for 27 years in the district, received the award at the New Lothrop Board of Education’s Monday, Jan. 14 meeting. VFW Quartermaster Jerry Burns was on hand to present the honor on behalf of Post #6579.

In addition to being recognized at the New Lothrop local level, Kasik also received the VFW District 9 level award. She is currently being considered for an award at the state level, which will be presented at the VFW state conference in June.

Michelle Barrett, principal at New Lothrop Elementary School, recommended Kasik for the award because of her lead-by-example approach to teaching and her lessons for students on the value of citizenship.

“Mrs. Kasik is a top-notch, compassionate teacher who takes her role of developing responsible citizens and learners very seriously,” Barrett said in a recommendation letter. “Her students have so much respect for her. This is not only because she is an amazing leader and mentor, but also because she shows utmost respect to them.”

One of Kasik’s lessons on citizenship was to have students rewrite “The Pledge of Allegiance” using their own words. This activity prompted students to have conversations on why Americans say The Pledge and what the words meant to the original authors.

“Mrs. Kasik runs her classroom like a family where she hosts many valuable conversations on life-lessons, morals and the values of citizenship,” Barrett said. “Her classes know that they are ‘all in it together,’ and they hold each other responsible to show integrity, kindness, citizenship and compassion.”