11th Annual Baird Excellence Awards Honors JCPS Schools Educators

Firm

LOUISVILLE, Sept. 24, 2024 – Baird was pleased to honor nearly 40 Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) teachers and principals at the 11th annual Baird Excellence Awards at the Waterfront Botanical Gardens on Monday. The awards ceremony, sponsored by Baird, recognizes outstanding teaching and leadership performance from educators across the district.

Baird Vice Chair Jim Allen, JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio and Congressman Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky provided remarks at the ceremony.   

Baird is thrilled to celebrate the dedicated teachers and administrators in JCPS, and the critical role they play in educating young people in Louisville.

“We owe so much to our educators, especially the teachers and administrators who continue to go above and beyond for their students, both in and out of the classroom,” said Congressman Morgan McGarvey. “It’s an honor to play even a small part in recognizing the unmatched dedication, compassion, and hard work of this year’s award recipients—our JCPS kids, families, and schools are so lucky to have you.”

Dr. Pollio stated, “It takes intelligence, hard work and, most importantly, passion to be a great teacher. These JCPS educators share all three of these characteristics. We thank them for sharing their talents and passion with our students and thank Baird for recognizing our best educators, year after year, with this prestigious award.”

I can’t say enough about the dedication of our award recipients and their unwavering commitment to JCPS students,” Allen said. “Baird is proud to help support their endeavors and celebrate these remarkable educators for all that they have done for their students and for Louisville.

Jim Allen, Baird Vice Chair
Following are the 2024 Baird Excellence Awards recipients.

Teacher Awards:

  • Joni Collins, Crums Lane Elementary School
  • Ben Welp, Western Middle School
  • Shantel Reed, Central High School

Student-Nominated Award:

  • Judie Boyd, Norton Elementary School
  • William Barnett, Pathfinder School of Innovation
  • Mark LaMaster, Fern Creek High School

Principal Awards:

  • Rebecca Haynes, Hawthorne Elementary School
  • Lekieta Chinn, E.B. DuBois Academy
  • Jarrad Durham, Jeffersontown High School

Academic Instructional Coach:

  • Jason Harvey, Phoenix School of Discovery

Special Education Teacher: 

  • Angela Williams, Seneca High School

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs):  

  • Kaylee Salamon, Jim Lenz, Brooke Moore, Katelyn Donlon, Echo Trail Middle School
  • Jordan Rosendahl, Dianna Ford, Dilli Adhikari, Anne Miller, Rita Robinson-Secession, Newcomer Academy, Accelerate to Graduation (A2G PLC)

Health Services Award: 

  • Angela Robinson, Jacob Elementary School

FRYSC Champion Award:

  • Carla Wright, Breckinridge Metropolitan High School

Financial Literacy Leadership Award:

  • Allison Cecil, duPont Manual High School

Community Partnership Awards:

  • Bellarmine University Teacher Award: Hannah McKenna, Iroquois High School
  • Bill Alden Special Recognition Award: Allyson Vitato, Maupin Elementary School
  • Class Act Federal Credit Union Teacher Award: Laura Motley, Waggener High School
  • Compassionate School Project Award: Lindsey Beth Thierauf, Watterson Elementary School
  • Unistar Purchasing Solutions/FRYSC Award: Dr. Frank Mays, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
  • The Barbara Sexton Smith Teacher Award presented by Fund for the Arts: Lisa Simon, Bellewood Home for Children
  • Jefferson Community and Technical College Teacher Award: Wendy Robertson, Doss High School
  • Junior Achievement Teacher Award: Stacey Hodges, ECE School Support, JCPS
  • Kentucky Science Center Administrator Award: Tonkeyta Rodgers, Elev8 Student Learning Center
  • Metro United Way Early Care and Education Award: Brian Clark, Duvalle Education Center
  • Metro United Way Out-of-School Time Leadership Award: Madalyn Marables, Atherton High School
  • University of Louisville Teacher Award: Scott Woodburn, Perry Elementary School
  • Evolve502 Champion Award: Keturah Wright, Fern Creek High School
  • YMCA Award for Youth Development: Mark Boyer, Klondike Elementary School

Baird Vice Chair Jim Allen at the podium during the 2024 Baird Excellence Awards event.

Educator receiving a 2024 Baird Excellence Award

Two educators receiving 2024 Baird Excellence Awards

An educator receiving a 2024 Baird Excellence Award

About Baird

Putting clients first since 1919, Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, asset management, investment banking/capital markets and private equity firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Baird has approximately 5,100 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients and more than $455 billion in client assets as of June 30, 2024. Committed to being a great workplace, Baird ranked No. 34 on the 2024 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list – its 21st consecutive year on the list. Baird is the marketing name of Baird Financial Group. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and Baird Trust Company in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s investment banking and private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s website at www.rwbaird.com.

About Jefferson County Public Schools

Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) is a leading urban school district that provides high-quality education for nearly 97,000 students. JCPS is Kentucky's largest school district. One in every seven students in Kentucky attends school at JCPS.

Parents can choose the school and the programs that best meet their child's needs and match their learning style. From preschool to adult education, JCPS is known for educational innovation, dedication to students, and highly qualified teachers and administrators.

For additional information, contact:

Baird Public Relations
(414) 765-7250
publicrelations@rwbaird.com