Third grade teacher Kathy Edwards received the Dr. John V. Irion Award at the Queensbury Elementary School on Wednesday, June 5.
Dr. John V. “Jack” Irion was Queensbury’s superintendent for 21 years from 1973-94. He was a devoted fan of Queensbury athletics and highly revered in the Queensbury community. Irion’s son, John Irion, was on hand to help present the award to Edwards, whose colleagues performed a skit fashioned after the show “The Amazing Race.”
Principal Jessica Rossetti said Edwards fosters positive relationships, is committed to hard work and excellence, and finds ways to make people smile at work each day.
Christine Herrmann, who was on the committee to select the Irion Award winner, said Edwards does things on a daily basis that no one else would even consider doing. Edwards orders Dream Shirts in white so she can tie dye them with her students. She does hands-on science experiments with parent volunteers. She raises money for Adopt-A-Family and takes her students shopping to purchase and wrap gifts for families in need. She hatches baby chicks in her classroom every year. And in April, she took her students to SUNY Plattsburgh to view the solar eclipse.
“The kids had the most incredible experience, and I think Kathy might have had the most fun of all,” Herrmann said. “And just listening to her talk about it afterwards, she was just so delighted. And that’s the kind of teacher that Kathy is.”
Herrmann called Edwards a fierce advocate for her students and 100% committed to her kids and their families.
“You are truly valued and admired for all the ways you go above and beyond for your students, families and coworkers,” Herrmann said.
With tears in her eyes, Edwards thanked her colleagues.
“I really appreciate all the people that I work with, and my teammates are great,” Edwards said. “I’m very lucky to be here at QES. Thank you, everybody.”