Christian Heights teacher wins award

Teaching students a variety of science-related topics doesn't even begin to describe the job duties one Fort Scott Christian Heights teacher has assigned to himself.

For nearly twenty years, Larry Davolt has gone the extra mile to make sure his students received the quality of education they deserved. Because of his dedication, Davolt was named the December Teacher of the Month in a contest co-sponsored by MyTown Media and the Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union.

According to MyTown Media account manager Joe Manns, Davolt was nominated for the award by some of the radio station's listeners. After receiving nominations, Manns said, the contest staff review each nomination looking for those teachers who "go above and beyond the call of duty."

Manns added, Davolt's commitment to his job was one of the reasons he was chosen for the award.

"It was his pure dedication to the job," Manns said. "He actually spent a weekend working on the (school's) boiler, so the classrooms would have heat. That says a lot about the guy and his dedication to teaching and taking care of the kids."

Davolt, who has been teaching at FSCH since the fall of 1991, said he enjoys his job so much that he is willing to commute each day from Cherokee. In addition, Davolt stops in Pittsburg each morning and picks up six other students that attend the school. He said his main goal is to help his students succeed in whatever they are doing.

"My greatest rewards is the success of my students," Davolt said. "I love my job, and enjoy working with young people. Teaching science is fun because you get to blow things up. I love the fact that I have freedom to teach that this universe is a creative product of an omnipotent God."

Jeremy Budy, FSCH teacher, who has had both a student-teacher relationship with Davolt and a co-worker relationship with him, said he is not surprised that Davolt was the recipient of the award.

"In regards to Mr. Davolt's award, I would say that it is well deserved," Budy said. "I have known him for almost 20 years, as both a student of his and a co-worker, and I have always respected and admired him. He is a teacher who really cares about his students. He has been known to pull them aside and ask them how things are going at home, and has even called or text them over the summer to check up on them. His greatest quality to me is that he is greatly concerned about every student's spiritual life. He not only teaches them academics, but also about their relationship with God, which can impact their life more than any science class."

Vickie Shead, also a teacher at FSCH, said the example Davolt shows to others is the same both in the classroom and out of the classroom.

"In his personal life and in his teaching students, Mr. Davolt always portrays an example of quality that promotes a high standard and a deep love of learning," Shead said.

Patricia Schafer and Ashleigh Page, two of Davolt's students, said their teacher is a good example of Christian character to students throughout the entire school.

"Mr. Davolt is a great leader around the whole school, not only in the classroom," Schafer said. "His work speaks to his dedication to the students and to Christian Heights."

Page added, "Mr. Davolt is a great teacher. He enjoys teaching and really cares about his students' futures. Whether it be schoolwork or personally related, Mr. Davolt tries his best to be a Christian leader."

According to Manns, as part of being awarded Teacher of the Month in December, Davolt was given dinner and movie certificates. In addition, his name will be entered into a drawing that will be conducted in May. The winner of the May drawing will receive a $500 classroom grant provided by Pittsco, Pittsburg. The Pitsco grant will be matched by MyTown Media, making it possible for the nominees to earn $1,000 for their classrooms. In addition, a runner-up will be awarded $500 from Pitsco.

Manns said he would encourage anyone who wants to nominate an outstanding teacher for the Teacher of the Month award to do so online at www.1035X.net or www.star1017.net.

"Anytime we can recognize the people that are helping to shape our kids' lives, is a bonus," Manns said.