The annual William and Barbara Gerhold Family Teacher of the Year award is made available to any Columbus Catholic School teacher and is funded by an endowed gift from the family of Barbara Gerhold and her late husband Bill. The award is valued at $5,000--with $1,500 available for the teacher's personal use, $1,000 available for the teacher's professional development and $2,500 available for the teacher to use for the benefit of his or her students.

Eligibility Requirements

All certified classroom teachers of the Columbus Catholic Schools who have not previously received this award in the last five years are eligible to be nominated. A selection committee established by the Gerhold family chooses winners.

Eligible candidates will:

a. Display the characteristics of a solid Christian role model,

b. Present a history of growth of professional educational credentials and/or related program memberships as well as growth in the teaching skills and techniques they use in the classroom,

c. Demonstrate how they challenge students to excel academically, and to live and serve as Christian citizens.

d. Be employed by the Columbus Catholic Schools at a minimum one- fourth time level and have a minimum of three years of completed service with the Columbus Catholic Schools.

e. Submit a completed application by the prescribed deadline

Teacher of the Year Award Winners

1999 Tom Salyard, Scotus Central Catholic HS

2000 Amy Sokol, St. Anthony School

2001 Beth Augustine, St. Bonaventure School

2002 Mary Ann Marik, St. Bonaventure School

2003 Merlin Lahm, Scotus Central Catholic HS

2004 Karen Melcher, St. Bonaventure School

2005 Vern Younger, Scotus Central Catholic HS

2006 Carolyn Lippert, St Anthony School

2007 John Petersen, Scotus Central Catholic HS

2008 Kristen Cox, Scotus Central Catholic HS

2009 Jan Foltz, St. Bonaventure School

2010 Barbara Halligan, St. Isidores