To celebrate the contributions that educators across the U.S. make to positive youth development, Lions Quest is pleased to recognize our first educator award recipients.

Finalist Mary Lou Zaums and Bedford (MI) Junior High School
The Bedford Public Schools began Lions Quest implementation in 1990, using Skills for Adolescence with 8th grade students. Since then, the program has expanded to 6th, 7th and 8th grades. A strong home-school-community partnership has developed, with local Lions supporting teacher workshops and participating in service projects, and district sponsorship of a parent group. Formal program evaluation is conducted semi-annually. The district has benefitted from improved school climate, decreased negative behavior reports, decreased drug and alcohol use, and improved communication.

Finalist Martha Coulter and Rutland (VT) Central Supervisory Union
Forty-two K-12 teachers at RCSU just completed their first year of Lions Quest implementation with huge success. The district chose Lions Quest as a SEL program that would provide service learning, increase community involvement, increase collaboration among staff, and improve adult-student connections. Each of 4 schools created SEL teams with representatives attending district study group meetings involving Lions as well. This summer, 63 more teachers, two administrators and four parents attended Lions Quest training. After kick-off assemblies, student brainstorming sessions, curriculum integration and numerous service learning projects, RCSU students have benefitted from improved SEL skills, increased knowledge of the harm of substance use, improved peer and adult relationships, and improved school climate and connectedness to school and community.

Grand Prize Winner Angela Bartletti, Fairview Elementary School, Springfield (IL)
Angela, a social worker at Fairview Elementary, has been implementing Skills for Growing lessons on a weekly basis in all K-5 classrooms for the past 3 years. Her program goals are to provide students with skills to manage anger, get along with others, and to properly address peer pressure and bullying. Uniquely, literacy is an important component of Lions Quest at Fairview. To make this connection, students use independent and group reading to further explore social skill concepts and anger management topics. Angela consults the Lions Quest recommended reading lists, uses lesson stories, and student library research to obtain appropriate literature. Fairview participates in a number of service learning projects that raise awareness of social issues and enhance classroom lessons. Together Times student materials are used to further engage families in student activities and development. Fairview has experienced improvement in student behavior and accountability, school climate, and a decrease in discipline referrals. Springfield Public Schools have been implementing Lions Quest programs since 1998.

Vermont Lions Club and Third Grade Class Named Winners of Lions Quest Service Contest

Vermont is the home of our Heroes in the Community winners! After learning that food shelves have the greatest need in February and March, the Vermont Lions developed the Food from the Heart project, collecting food donations at grocery store entrances on Valentine's Day weekend.

Mrs. Carol Barbagallo's third grade class at Rutland Town School partnered with Pittsford Lions Club and created the "100 Day" Food Drive in conjunction with the Food from the Heart project. Her class of 25 was responsible for going to each classroom in grades K-4 with a decorated cardboard box and challenging them to bring in 100 food items. On "100 Day" they collected and sorted 818 food items, well above the goal of 100! Carol's class decided to donate their goods directly to the Rutland Community Cupboard. Combined with the Lions donations of 440 lbs of food and $321 to the Pittsford and West Rutland food shelves, the partnership brought the Lions project to a third community and food shelf.

Rutland Town students learn important life lesson early

Read more about RCSU's service-learning and SEL initiatives.