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EARLENE WARD - SPECIAL
TO SIERRA STAR
PHOTO BY JUDY DURR
Yosemite High School Principal Steve Raupp congratulates Nancy Lusby after
she was named the Yosemite Joint Union High School District Teacher of
the Year for 2003.
Nancy
Lusby has been named the Yosemite Joint Union High School District Teacher
of the Year for 2003. She was honored at the district’s retirement and
awards banquet June 2.
Employees nominate candidates for Teacher of the Year and then a committee
of district employees selects the winner.
Mrs. Lusby was selected for the work she does in Peer Communications and
Peer Mediation and for being the driving force behind Challenge Day that
was held on the Yosemite High campus in February.
Two staff members nominated Mrs. Lusby for Teacher of the Year. One wrote
“She does an outstanding job in the classroom, but her contributions in
the education of students go far beyond the work that is done within those
four walls.”
“Nancy is an unsung lifesaver,” another wrote. “Above and beyond the call
of duty, Nancy is there for kids in distress. She teaches them coping
mechanisms for their myriads of problems.”
Both nominations referred to Mrs. Lusby’s work with Challenge Day. “This
activity, designed to have a positive influence on the culture of the
school and to help students to be tolerant of one another, has had a significant
impact on our school climate,” one wrote.
It was noted that Mrs. Lusby took on the endeavor of Challenge Day because
she believed that it would improve the overall education of students.
She not only organized Challenge Day but was instrumental in securing
community sponsors to fund the event.
Mrs. Lusby took a leadership role, working with seven other staff members,
to put together the Peer Mediation program at YHS. This program provides
students an opportunity to mediate problems with the help of their peers
in an effort to reduce conflict and incidents of violence on campus.
“Over the past two years, we have seen a marked change in the number of
incidents that have to be dealt with at the administrative level relating
to conflicts between students,” a nominator noted. “The program has proven
to be extremely effective and is well received by students. Again, this
is an example of Nancy going above and beyond the call of duty to provide
services to students, which have a positive impact on the overall educational
environment.”
Mrs. Lusby was also praised for her work as a classroom teacher. “Nancy
is a consummate professional who, like many staff members, puts in long
hours to remain current in her curriculum and hone her teaching skills.
She has high expectations for her students, yet is a caring and compassionate
teacher who is always willing to take the time to help students with personal
problems.”
Mrs. Lusby volunteers her time to serve on the School Steering Committee
which helps to drive the school planning and staff development process.
Reflecting on the year, Mrs. Lusby says it has been “an extraordinary
year for me. So many of my hopes for programs have been fulfilled and
went far beyond my expectations. I look forward to continuing our progress
next year.”
Mrs. Lusby, who has been on the YHS staff for 25 years, believes strongly
in the youth. “I strongly believe that teenagers, when given appropriate
training and encouragement, are very capable of solving their own problems.
By supporting programs, like Peer Mediation and Peer Communication, that
offer these skills and opportunities, teenagers become empowered with
the belief that they can make a difference.
“I find it tremendously gratifying to work with teenagers. I love their
energy, their enthusiasm and their commitment.”
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