Congratulations to Lori LeBrun!!!
11/02/2005
LeBrun named District Teacher of Year
By: Jessica Carr , Daily Times Staff
SUMMIT - Heaps of nominations for Coventry School District Teacher of the Year
were sent in to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vincent Hawkins' office and
accumulated over summer months. The competition for this honor was stiff, yet
there was no match for Lori LeBrun, a fourth grade teacher at Western Coventry
Elementary School.
LeBrun has been a part of the Coventry School district for 18 years. She has
worn multiple hats during that time, the bulk of which was spent in a classroom
teaching. Several years were dedicated to professional development work, time as
a Gates coach and also as a mentor coordinator for the district.
One of LeBrun's most distinguished accomplishments was her ability incorporate
different teaching styles and techniques that helped students raise their
problem-solving skills ratings on state assessment test scores. After many
tireless months of researching a variety of new strategies and ways to present
material to children, LeBrun modeled her findings and ideas to all of her
colleagues. Her work turned out to be such a success that the school in turn saw
significant gain in problem solving. It sky rocketed from the 23rd percentile to
the 71st percentile.
Noting LeBrun's dedication to improving those ratings as well as her overall
commitment to excellence for her classroom and the district as a whole, Jan
Sullivan, the principal at Western Coventry Elementary School, nominated LeBrun
for the honor of District Teacher of the Year.
"The talent that I have at this school is immeasurable but Lori has just gone
above and beyond," Sullivan said. "She has taken on a gigantic leadership role
as our Gates coach. She did a lot of modeling among her colleagues which clearly
speaks for itself. She commands such a wonderful level of respect and her
students love her."
"Lori is just so effective at getting the task at hand done, if we could clone
her I would," Sullivan said. "But, what it really comes down to is to get a
district award you really have to go above and beyond just what you do in the
classroom and I couldn't think of a better candidate for that than Lori."
Learning that she had been selected as District Teacher of the Year by the panel
of judges including peers, administrators, a high school student and a student's
parent came as quite a surprise to LeBrun. She explained that, although she was
well aware that her school Principal Jan Sullivan had nominated her for this
tremendous honor, she was too modest to think that she would beat out the
competition.
"Logistically, I just didn't think I would get it," LeBrun said. "There are just
so many other outstanding teachers in this district, more than 10 of which I can
think of just off the top of my head, who are truly deserving of being named a
distinguished educator."
LeBrun managed, after battling with an awful bout of the 48-hour stomach flu, to
muster the strength to go to the first day of orientation for the Coventry
school district.
"I remember sitting in my seat just feeling awful as they began to describe the
person that they had selected for the District Teacher of the Year," LeBrun
said. "First they said this person has taught for 18 years, served as a Gates
coach and I was like 'yeah, a lot of other people probably did that' but, then,
when they said served as district mentor coordinator, I was like 'Oh this can't
be' - and then they called my name."
"Never mind how awful I felt to begin with, then my stomach got all jittery and
I could barely even move," LeBrun said. "They asked me to say a few words but I
told them, 'you have to forgive me, I am really out of sorts' and really I was."
LeBrun has become even more humble then before since this honor was bestowed on
her.
"I wouldn't say this has changed me at all, but it has humbled me," LeBrun said.
"I've got so many notes, cards and hugs from other teachers in the building and
retired teachers and that part of it is what has been so thrilling for me."
"But, I have to say that if it wasn't for Barry Ricci [the former principal at
the school] who was such a great administrator and for Jan [Sullivan], who
continues that high level of expectations that Barry initiated years ago at our
school, then I wouldn't be where I am today," LeBrun said. "And I thank them for
that."