Making The Hawk Family Better Every Day: Piper 22-23 ExCEL Award Winner
In the late winter of each year, a partnership between WHAS11, LG&E, and KU seeks to honor a teacher from each local school district with the ExCEL Award. The award recognizes teachers who exemplify teaching excellence using innovation, excitement, and enthusiasm in their teaching methodology; who maintain meaningful personal relationships with students, parents, colleagues and community members; are role models of professionalism and citizenry; and are personally committed to continued professional development and enhancement.
LaRue County Schools considered nominees from Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Hodgenville Elementary School, LaRue County Middle School, and LaRue County High School. The nominees were Sara Mullins (ALES), Rebecca Scott (HES), Brandi Piper (LCMS), and Elizabeth Lockett (LCHS). The winner of the 2022-23 ExCEL Award for LaRue County Schools is Brandi Piper.
“I feel like the last several years have been hard on us all and I'm probably not on my A game, but I love my kids. Ultimately that's what it comes down to. I teach the academic standards, but really it's about making connections with and loving my kids” reflects Piper on winning the award. “I believe God put me here for a reason. He gave me this gift of education, of teaching my kids and connecting with them in a way that makes it special for them and for me.”
She admits that many might find teaching middle school a challenge, but in her eyes, it’s a challenge worth taking on - a calling, “Teaching middle school is not for everybody, but middle school is my jam. I think middle school is where you make it or break it - kids are either going to love school or they're going to hate it. My job is to make them love it. You have to find something that they're good at and love so that they know they can make it through another six years to graduation - that’s what I do.”
Two of the core values that LaRue County Schools strives toward in its Strategic Plan are 1) the belief that students thrive in a positive learning environment that ensures safety, stimulates personal growth, and challenges their abilities and 2) to have exemplary role models build relationships and provide a positive culture and learning environment for students. The ExCEL Award recognizes a specific teacher among an entire staff of teachers across the whole school district who lives out these beliefs. For Piper, her colleagues and administrators awarded her as the cream of the crop - leading the way toward a better Hawk Family every day.
