The Make a Mark Award is a special award honoring teachers in St. Johns County that encourage their students to make their mark on the world. When a teacher invests in their students they can inspire them to persevere and not give up! A winner will be chosen each month from an elementary and a secondary school by students & community business partners.
Courtney Johnson Named the August 2019 Make a Mark Award Winner for Elementary School
W.D. Hartley Elementary School first grade teacher Courtney Johnson won the INK! (Investing in Kids) Make A Mark award in August. Courtney always teaches straight from her heart. She shows students how to learn, play, love, respect one another, have dignity in themselves, show pride, and care. She shows compassion and never frustration. Courtney will go above and beyond to help parents and children with social development, homework, and projects.
She is so passionate about education. She continues to seek grants and raise awareness for educational products and projects that will stimulate students learning environment. She keeps it fun and exciting while teaching true life skills along with the required curriculum.
Congratulations, Courtney! You are INK-credible!
Kristen Meidling is the August 2019 Make a Mark Award Winner for Middle School
Nomination essay written by Mary Alice Hayes
In the month of June Kristen Meidling volunteered for the Summer FLY program at the Woodlawn Terrace Community. She came once a week for 3 weeks to teach the children sign language. She made learning fun through dancing with songs she taught them in sign language, and teaching them their names, as well as common phrases used. The children laughed and were delighted to learn! Kristen even brought her own young children to participate and help out. Each week, she brought a little gift to give to the children who participated. Kristen was a delight to work with and made a huge contribution to the Summer FLY program. For this reason, I think she should be nominated for Make a Mark!
Suzanne Stauble is the August 2019 Make a Mark Award Winner for High School
Nomination essay written by Claudia Dencer of Leonard’s Studio
Ms. Stauble is an amalgam of love and inspiration for hundreds of students and alumni at St Augustine High School. Not only is she a dynamic Spanish teacher, she leads the Interact program, taking students on a journey of service Above Self, and the Link Crew, who makes sure freshman feel welcome and become involved. Ms. Stauble always makes time for her students and creates an atmosphere of trust and always keeps her students engaged. I know that just recently she helped rally her Interact students to make an exchange student feel like he was not only welcome but a part of the SAHS family. She rallied her Interact Club and drove the students to locations to help during the last two hurricanes. Last year she orchestrated a food drive that fed the homeless of St Johns County. Students lined up to mentor younger students on packing meals ready for the cause. In her off time she schedules community clean ups, fundraisers and education initiatives to further the reach of all community service projects. I do not know how she does it… she balances it all and students desire to be apart of her ever glowing atmosphere. It is my honor to nominate her for the Make A Mark award. There is no doubt in my mind she deserves this moment as she is always going above and beyond the call of duty in everything she does for SAHS and the community.
Nominate a teacher who is making a mark on our students. Go to INK-stjohns.org and select “Make A Mark.”