South Middle School instructor receives Horizon Award

From left to right: Superintendant Rick Doll, Laura Hochman, Jordan Schuette of Truity Credit Union and South Middle School principal Jennifer Bessolo.

Laura Hochman, an English language arts teacher at South Middle School, on Friday received the Lawrence school district’s Horizon Award, which honors exemplary novice teachers.

Hochman’s colleagues described her as motivated, eager to learn and “dynamite,” according to a news release. She also coaches volleyball at South.

“Laura has excellent rapport with her students, knows her students on a personal level and dedicates time before, during and after school to help make them successful,” principal Jennifer Bessolo said in a statement. “She is a dedicated young professional, eager to take on new challenges and to ‘be the change’ in education right now.”

The Horizon Award also comes with a $250 cash prize from Truity Credit Union. On Thursday, a special education teacher at Pinckney Elementary, Mark Buckman, also received the award.

Both Hochman and Buckman will be nominated by the Lawrence school district for the statewide Horizon Award, which is handed down by the Kansas State Department of Education.