Sioux Falls School District names George Hawkins as Teacher of the Year
George Hawkins, a U.S. History and AP Government teacher at Jefferson High School, was named the 35th Annual Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year on Monday night in the Sioux Falls School District..
This is Hawkins’ 11th year as a teacher. He student-taught in college and changed career course to be an attorney at first, with some of his cases benefiting children, but he said he felt he would have a bigger impact on children as an educator.
He said he “jumped into” New Tech High School in its third year in 2012, and has loved teaching ever since, because he gets to work with children, see their growth and see them become who they’re meant to be.
Hawkins’ favorite memory as an educator is seeing a student, who transferred from Brandon Valley High School and was struggling a little bit, later take to the educational model at NTHS and go on to become the graduation speaker as a senior.
“I’m humbled beyond words,” Hawkins said of winning the district’s 35th Annual award. “I can’t fathom it. I was moved to tears.”
Last year's winner:Sioux Falls School District names Pettigrew fifth grade teacher 2022 Teacher of the Year
He said he’s not sure what he’ll do with his $4,000 in winnings yet, but is sure his students will have some ideas of how they’d like him to use it. The $4,000 check Hawkins won was provided by Vern Eide Motorcars.
Hawkins also received a plaque and a collection of rocks painted by local students to go with the theme of this year’s award, “Teachers are the rocks and foundation that build the future.”
Hawkins’ nominator, Jason Currie-Olson, said Hawkins is one of the most accomplished, well-rounded teachers he’s ever worked with and called him innovative, caring, inspiring, dedicated, passionate and consistent.
“You know what you’re going to get with George Hawkins every single day,” Currie-Olson said. “Day in and day out, he is prepared, he has thought of something new and fun, and he really does a great job of getting kids to understand content in a way that really transcends what they think they can understand.”
In presenting the award to Hawkins, Superintendent Jane Stavem said judges learned his best qualities were as follows: “Organized and methodical, possessing an encyclopedic knowledge, engaging, unique and fun, purposeful and passionate, nationally-recognized, an unparalleled researcher, (and) someone students just love to be around.”
Laura Wiebelhaus, another finalist for the Harris award and a kindergarten teacher at Eugene Field Elementary School since 2013, won the second annual Distinguished Educator Award in the district, which included $2,000 in winnings from One American Bank.
Wiebelhaus’ nominator, parent Andrea Boerigter, said she’s had two boys in her class who are very different from one another and that Wiebelhaus gave them all the tools they needed to succeed regardless of how differently they needed to learn.
She is “probably the most patient human I’ve ever met,” Boerigter said, and “has the respect of not only all the children, but her colleagues. Her passion is to work with the kids, and all of them have such wonderful things to say about her.”
In presenting the award, school board vice president Carly Reiter said Wiebelhaus is “treasured and trusted, passionate yet patient, role model, supportive ally and loving human.”
Other finalists for the Teacher of the Year award were Kim Bogart, Tammy Ramstad, Nicole Schilmoeller and Jason Stahlberg. There were 68 total nominees this year.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Schools name 35th Dr. John W. Harris Teacher of the Year
