Ron Swall, who teaches in the Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID program at Free State High School, is the recipient of this year’s Dedication to Education Award from the Lawrence Schools Foundation.

The $5,000 award is given each year to a certified teacher or paraprofessional in the Lawrence school district to recognize outstanding efforts to ensure that challenged and disadvantaged students learn.

“Ron would certainly rank among the most dedicated and patient educators I have worked with throughout my career,” said Free State principal Ed West. “He is passionate about his work and believes that each of his students is worthy of his best efforts.”

Swall, who is also a student support teacher, joined the Lawrence district in 1993 as a special education teacher at what was then Central Junior High School, now Liberty Memorial Central Middle School. He transferred to Lawrence High School in 1998. He also taught at the former Lawrence Alternative High School before moving to Free State in 2005 as a student support teacher.

He earned his bachelor’s degree at Pittsburg State University and a master’s at Kansas University.

The Lawrence Schools Foundation is a private, nonprofit charitable organization that raises money to enrich programs and services in the Lawrence school district. It promotes early-childhood education, innovative teaching and learning opportunities, and recognition of outstanding teachers.