Photo: Stephanie Maierson

ADL Presents Walter Kase Teacher Excellence Award to Three Houston-Area Educators

Date: May 9, 2008

The Anti-Defamation League's (ADL's) Southwest Regional office presented its Walter Kase Teacher Excellence Award to an English teacher and two counselors at its annual Walter Kase Teacher Excellence Award Luncheon May 6 in Houston. The award, named after Holocaust survivor Walter Kase, is presented annually to three educators who nurture mutual understanding and respect in our increasingly diverse school population.

Clements High School English teacher and student council sponsor Sheila McAninch of the Fort Bend Independent School District received the award for a number of projects she implemented through her classes and student council. When her students were reading To Kill a Mockingbird, McAninch emphasized the book's anti-bias message by having her students imagine what it was like to walk in someone else's shoes, and then donate a pair of new shoes to an area women's center. Her students wrote moving compositions about the project, demonstrating they understood the importance of empathy and giving to others. McAninch's work with the student council led to Clements receiving a No Place for Hate® designation this year, in addition to other years.

Spring Branch Middle School counselor Shannon Boyer created a girl's group at her school that addressed issues such as bullying and name-calling. The girl's group received national media attention because it was so successful in teaching the girls to listen to and respect each other and avoid the type of video bullying that garnered national media attention for another group of girls. Boyer also helped the middle school receive a No Place for Hate® designation.

Roth Elementary School counselor Stephanie Collier begins teaching children to value their own cultural identity and appreciate the cultural identities of others at a very young age. She interacts with all the students in her school and promotes respect and inclusiveness through many events and activities, including a Mix It Up Day, a mentoring program, Pinwheels for Peace, a Great Wall of Character and ADL’s No Place for Hate® program.

More than 500 people attended the Walter Kase Teacher Excellence Award luncheon, which raised more than $80,000 for ADL education programs.