It’s an annual tradition. Since 1968, hand in hand with the Carmi Kiwanis Club’s creed of serving the children of the world, the organization honors those who directly serve the community’s children by handing out Educator and (since 2021) Support Staff of the Year awards. In addition, each spring, the club invites the superintendent and building principals to recognize retirees.
This year’s awards went to Craig Winter and Dee Stone. Stone was recognized as a “maybe” retiree as Jefferson Attendance Center Principal Lacey Moore says Stone hasn’t committed. Moore had this to say on Stone’s impact over the last 28 years.
She hasn’t quite made up her mind yet and instead of us missing out if she does decide to retire, I decided to type it up so if you hear the same thing next year, we’re all gonna pretend like we’ve never heard this before. She was hired in 1997 as a Lincoln Pre-K teacher’s aide. In the past 28 years, she’s worked at Lincoln, Jefferson, and the high school as a reading improvement aid, librarian, special education classroom aid, breakfast supervisor, and even a crossing guard. Miss Dee has been in her current position as the Health Aid in our school district for the past 7 years. She currently spends 3 days at the Junior/Senior High and the other 2 at Jefferson. She gives out daily meds, patches up bumps and bruises, works with the Lions Club and other local entities to get students in need glasses, and frequently is a shoulder to cry on or ear to listen for students and occasionally staff members. She is also currently the only person in the district certified to do vision and hearing screenings and she makes sure that all students get those. She also has served as our non-certified union president for the past 6 years where she’s worked tirelessly to support paraprofessionals in our district. She’s done an amazing job unifying support staff and working with administration for the betterment of our entire district.
She was awarded by Kiwanis President Amanda Nelson’s son Bentley. Nelson says Stone has spent the last two years supporting Bentley in his journey with Juvenile Diabetes.
Craig Winter will also be calling it a career after 27+ years. Nelson had the honors of reading some of the words from nominations
submitted on Winter’s influence.
He shows up day in and day out and chooses to see purpose in how he serves his students. He’s always been genuinely kind, compassionate, caring, and an empathetic teacher to his students. To his colleagues, he’s been a source of quiet strength. He’s not one who has a need to be seen or heard or seeks glory for himself. In fact, he wouldn’t be happy about this nomination. But he loves to see others succeed. He’s a true team player. He’s been able to establish a personal connection with students and provide instruction that fits their needs and learning styles. He creates engaging lessons that spark curiosity and sparks students’ thinking. He goes above and beyond to always put students first. In the community, when I meet former students, they always ask about him. This demonstrates his genuine dedication and passion for ensuring his students have the opportunity to thrive. He was a high school baseball coach for 14 years, a huge undertaking, and he was a great example to the boys he coached. He’s also coached JV basketball, middle school basketball, and track.
On the distinction, Winter offered this.
I think I was in Kiwanis several years ago when I operated our family hardware store, Fickert True Value hardware and Carmi is a very important place to me. It’s been my home my whole life. When I was 30-years-old I found my purpose and that was to be a teacher. The coaching was fun, but I always just considered myself a teacher. I just wanted the best for my kids and I see them at Wal-Mart and it brings joy to me to see them working and being productive in the community and that’s my job…so thank you very much.
Other retirees honored Thursday afternoon included Diane Healy, Bobby Lamp, Kurt Simon, and Kim Murphy.
Kiwanis Educator of the Year History
1968 – Floyd Cotter
1969 – John Evers
1970 – Beulah Huber
1971 – Wave Jamerson
1972 – Marie Harrawood
1973 – Charles Hortin
1974 – Adamae Roosevelt
1975 – Faye Mitchell
1976 – Mike Croghan
1977 – Ernest Fechtig
1978 – Dean Hughes
1979 – Bill Duncan
1980 – Bernice Dartt
1981 – Mary Maze
1982 – Peggy Huff
1983 – Ted Matsel
1984 – Larry Busch
1985 – Simon Naas
1986 – Don Dixon
1987 – Ken Hurt
1988 – Steve Martin
1989 – Steve Bell
1990 – Cindy Martin
1991 – Trudy Jacobs
1992 – Dale Medlin
1993 – Don Kittinger
1994 – Nancy Gher
1995 – Alice Bryant
1996 – Don Garrett
1997 – Dave Johnson
1998 – Betty Brown
1999 – Molly Rawlinson
2000 – C. Dean Hughes
2001 – Kenneth Brown
2002 – Dr. Frank Barbre
2003 – Jack Russell
2004 – Larry Gwaltney
2005 – Melanie Allyn
2006 – Judy Gaines
2007 – Cindy Colman
2008 – Cathy Wilkey
2009 – Sharon Martin
2010 – Sharon Whitsitt
2011 – Judy Warrick
2012 – Teresa Hon
2013 – Terry Gholson
2014 – Barbara McArthy
2015 – Joan Wallace
2016 – Cindy Hoskins
2017 – Alex Aud
2018 – Gina Sailer
2019 – Leanett Lovell
2020 – William Knight
2021 – Carol Potter
Support Staff of the Year – Kay Ridenour
2022 – Amy Dixon
Support Staff of the Year – Randy Warrick
2023 – Amy Rice
Support Staff of the Year – June Acord
2024 – Stacy Simon
Support Staff of the Year – Mark Renshaw
