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Parker teacher, student win Herb Kohl awards

JANESVILLE — A Janesville Parker High School teacher and one of his students were honored Thursday by the Herb Kohl Education Foundation.

Joe Van Rooy, a social studies teacher and director of the Washington Seminar program, received a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellows award. One of Van Rooy's advanced placement government students, Markus Murdy, received a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Excellence Scholars award.

Van Rooy was one of three teachers in Janesville to be honored as a Kohl Fellow. Jennifer Schrab at Jefferson Elementary and Teresa Pickarts at St. Mary's also were named Kohl Fellows.

Murdy was the only Janesville student to make Kohl's scholars list.

"I'm humbled, honored and flattered to be chosen for this honor," Van Rooy said. "This award also goes to the great students I've had over the years who wanted to learn about government and were excited to see government in action. The parents also get credit for their involvement and sacrifices."

Van Rooy also thanked his colleagues and the district administration.

"It is the cooperation and the support of my colleagues at Parker that help make this possible," he said. "I also have to mention the great support we get from the administration here at Parker and at the district level including the school board commissioners."

The award includes a $1,000 grant to the teacher and a matching grant to the school.

"The grants will be applied to the Washington Seminar program to allow us to continue to provide student scholarships on a need basis," Van Rooy said.

Third grade teacher Schrab credited her colleagues.

"I'm very excited and humbled by this," she said. "I work with an amazing group of people."

Area teachers and students will formally receive their awards at a recognition luncheon and reception at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 27, at McFarland High School.

Pickarts teaches third grade at St. Mary's School. She was not available for comment, but her principal, Julie Garvin, said she was very happy for her.

"Teresa is a phenomenal teacher, and I can't think of any teacher more deserving of this award," Garvin said. "She has the innate ability to look at each child as an individual and teach that child individually, even in a class with several children at different abilities."

The awards are presented annually to teachers recognized for their teaching excellence and innovation.

Other area teachers winning awards include:

Michelle Hendrix-Nora, Beloit Memorial High

Michael Hall, Fort Atkinson High

Donald Hammon, Badger High in Lake Geneva

Laura Grochowski, Lakeview Elementary School, Whitewater

Area students receiving Kohl Excellence Scholars awards include:

Brenda Bird, Edgerton High

Nicole Gauvin, Beloit Memorial High

Grant Luberda, Williams Bay High

Allison White, Elkhorn High

Receiving Kohl Initiative Scholars awards were:

Katherine Jenkins, Beloit Memorial High

Michael Melvin, Edgerton High

Caitlyn Gerlach, Palmyra-Eagle High