Gillespie "Golden Onion Award" recognizes Walla Walla educators for excellence

Gillespie "Golden Onion Award" recognizes Walla Walla educators for excellence
Longtime Walla Walla resident and one-time teacher Sue Gillespie and her husband Mike recently established the "Golden Onion Award" to provide school supplies, equipment and professional development funds to Walla Walla educators.

"The Gillespie Teacher Development Fund was a gift to my husband Dr. Mike Gillespie for our 45th wedding anniversary," said Sue Gillespie. "Mike and his brother set up a similar foundation in Texas in honor of their mother Velma Freeman-Gillespie and Mike's aunt Zelma Freeman-Root who both taught at Borger Junior High School in Texas for more than 25 years. Teachers are very important to us and they need our support. We want to make sure they are appreciated and recognized."

The "Golden Onion Award" will be presented annually to three district teachers representing elementary (P-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12) grade levels. Each recipient will receive $500 for use in their classroom or to better their teaching skills. 

The awards will be peer nominated and peer judged. Nomination forms are now available at the Walla Walla Public Schools district office and the school district website: www.wwps.org. Nomination forms will be accepted for consideration until Monday, May 2, 2011. Recipients will be honored during the Walla Walla Public Schools All-Staff Breakfast June 10, 2011. The Gillespie Teacher Development Fund is a component fund of the Blue Mountain Community Foundation with underlying investment at Edward Jones.

Sue Gillespie taught social studies, science and math in high school and junior high school for 10 years in Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma and Okinawa Japan. Dr. Mike Gillespie is a retired orthopedic surgeon. Sue Gillespie was the office manager for Mike Gillespie's orthopedic practice in Walla Walla and therefore did not return to teaching. The Gillespie's raised three children in Walla Walla, all who attended Walla Walla Public Schools.

Walla Walla Public Schools serves 6200 students in 10 schools. The district has more than 800 employees, including approximately 400 certificated teachers.

For over twenty-five years, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation has supported the giving of people who care about the Blue Mountain area.  Through this generosity, BMCF grants reach nearly $1.5 million each year.  It has grown to over 220 component funds, like the Gillespie Teacher Development Fund and Mike and Sue Gillespie Sustaining Endowment Fund, directed to benefit the people and progress of the Blue Mountain area.  Learn more at www.bluemountainfoundation.org.