East Mills Teacher "Surprised" To Win Lakin Award

HASTINGS - Friday, the Charles E. Lakin Foundation announced Cathy Field, a fifth-grade teacher at East Mills Elementary  School as a recipient of one of the 2020 Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Awards.

“In education, we try to measure everything.  We screen, assess and test daily to measure growth.  But, I might argue that some of the most important lessons, life lessons, are immeasurable,” said Kelly Sutherland, principal of East Mills Elementary. “In Mrs. Field’s class, she teaches her children how to treat each other with respect and how to get along with others.  She teaches her children how to greet someone new with a smile and a kind word.  She teaches her students to celebrate with others in good times and how to show compassion and empathy for each other in tough times.”

Sutherland said Field is having a lasting impact on her students.

“Each day, she helps her students build self-confidence, perseverance and dignity all the while teaching math, reading and writing.  While test scores will tell you some things, they will not tell you everything about the impact Mrs. Field has on her students’ lives.  We are fortunate that she is a part of the East Mills team and making a difference for so many.”
Field, a New York native, is in her third year of teaching at East Mills. As a military wife, she has lived in many communities. She was taken back by Friday morning’s award presentation.

“I was very surprised by it, I will tell you that,” she said during a telephone interview Monday. “I didn’t know the award existed because I originally taught in Missouri. I was blindsided by it, just stunned. I’m very happy that I won it.”

In addition to Field, eight other East Mills elementary teachers were nominated for the Lakin award during the nomination period in March.

The Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award is given to four outstanding southwest Iowa public school teachers from non-urban schools within a 40-mile radius of the late philanthropist Charles Lakin’s hometown of Emerson. Winners of the Lakin Award receive $10,000 to use on anything unrelated to school and their respective district receives an award of $2,500.

Field said her students and co-workers have been “very supportive” since the award was announced.

“A lot of congratulations. My students were excited because they won $10,000,” she quipped. “I’m like, yeah, let’s just say the treasure box is going be really good.”

No decision has been made on how the school district will spend its $2500 award, Field said.

The award ceremonies, which traditionally take place in May, were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Opinion-Tribune

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