ORANGE — Teachers Kathleen Koonz and Dereck Dowler are this year’s recipients of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching awards for the Orange Elementary and Mahar Regional districts.
Koonz is a special education teacher at the Dexter Park School in Orange and Dowler a high school math teacher at Mahar Regional School.
Superintendent Tari Thomas praised both as well-respected, caring teachers who work tirelessly to ensure their students’ success. “Their enthusiasm and pride for their work has been repeatedly noted among colleagues and parents,” Thomas wrote.
The two are to be recognized with colleagues from accross the region at the annual awards ceremony April 28 in Holyoke.
Each receives an engraved plaque, a cash award and other gifts.