photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Lawrence High School history teacher Valerie Schrag was surprised with the Lawrence Schools Foundation's Excellence in Teaching Award Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

When Lawrence High School history teacher Valerie Schrag entered the school gymnasium Tuesday afternoon, she probably wasn’t expecting to hear cheers and applause.

But that’s exactly what she got. The bleachers on one side were lined with students and colleagues who’d gathered to surprise her with the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s annual Excellence in Teaching Award, along with a check for $10,000.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Lawrence High School history teacher Valerie Schrag makes her way across the school’s gymnasium as students and colleagues cheer her on.

Schrag has taught at Lawrence High for 22 years, and she told the group who gathered to celebrate her Tuesday that she’s never once thought of going anywhere else. She said that’s because the people who work and learn there make it a special place.

“Teaching is not an easy job,” Schrag said. “If you do it right, it breaks your heart and it makes your heart sing, and it makes you smile. You keep up with graduates for years and years and years. It’s one of the hardest jobs in the world, and it is the best job in the world because of all of you.”

Lawrence Superintendent Anthony Lewis cited myriad reasons that Schrag’s students and colleagues shared for why she deserves the award — that she brings a voice of wisdom and gentleness as her fundamental guide in deciding what’s best for her students, that she’s the “most passionate and caring teacher” her colleagues have had the opportunity to work alongside, and that she not only has inspired former students to pursue their careers but also has stayed in touch and supported them in their next steps after graduation.

“What we are witnessing today is truly a testament of what we have here in Lawrence,” Lewis said. “We do have jewels and diamonds here in Lawrence, and we’re here to celebrate one of those diamonds here today.”

Also known as the “Bobs Award” due to its origins — the award was created through the Lawrence Schools Foundation by a group of civic leaders who all shared the same first name, Bob — benefactors choose to remain anonymous each year so as to keep the focus on the outstanding educators who are selected to receive it.