Four Idaho teachers to be recognized with Pesky Awards

Three teachers from the Boise School District and one teacher from the West Ada School District will receive the Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching during Boise State University's winter commencement next Saturday.

The award acknowledges Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers who have a had significant impact on the lives of their students. It was created by Alan and Wendy Pesky, the founders of the Lee Pesky Learning Center that provides children and adults who have learning disabilities with the tools necessary to be successful in school.

“Wendy and I established the Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching five years ago to express our belief in the important role we feel teachers play in the future of our country," Alan Pesky said. "We believe there is nothing more important in this regard than the K-12 teachers of a child. It is our desire to do what we can to give the teaching profession the respect we believe it rightfully deserves by establishing this award."

Awards will be given to Sheryce Davis, a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Owyhee Elementary School; Rich Lapp, choir teacher for grades 10-12 at Timberline High School; Mary McGuire, reading specialist at Horizon Elementary School; and Brooke Roy, psychology and English teacher at Rocky Mountain High School.

The four recipients of the award will receive $2,000 each while each their schools will be given $500. The awards are funded by the Peskys.