Superintendent William Hughes and Board President Tom Slota present the Kohl Accommodation to Sandy Speare.

Greendale Schools announced today that Greendale Middle School Library Media Specialist Sandy Speare has been selected as an Herb Kohl Foundation Fellowship recipient. Fellowship recipients are chosen for their superior ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, their ability to motivate others and their leadership and service within and outside the classroom.

“Each year a Greendale Schools teacher is recognized – which is a tribute to the high quality faculty that serves in the Greendale Schools. This year, Sandy Speare personifies what a teacher leader is all about,” said Superintendent of Schools William Hughes.

With degrees in Exceptional Education and Library and Information Science from UW-Milwaukee, Sandy Speare has been with Greendale Schools since 1984. She strives to stay on the cutting edge, collaborating with staff to engage students and determine how best to use technology in the classroom. Speare has been instrumental in bringing multiple literacy opportunities to students, including Book Club, Teen Read Week, Reading Rampage, Battle of the Books, the Scholastic Book Fair and the One Book One School program. She is the driving force behind the After School Study Club, providing students not only an environment to study and research, but also technology that they may not have access to at home. Speare also collaborates with the Greendale Public Library and helped create Greendale Middle School’s first Literacy Night.

John Weiss, principal at Greendale Middle School, is pleased that Speare has been recognized by the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation. “Sandy is an educator with a passion for literacy, learning and helping students to find their passion,” said Weiss. “As the Library Media Specialist, Sandy has been instrumental in our efforts related to technology, academic support, literacy and curriculum development. She also develops strong relationships with the students, parents and community to help increase engagement in our school.”

Speare will represent Greendale Middle School and the Greendale School District at a regional recognition luncheon on Saturday, March 31 at Riverside University High School where she will receive her award from Senator Herb Kohl. As part of the recognition, each Fellow’s school receives a $1,000 grant.

“I found the application process for the Herb Kohl Foundation Fellowship to be rewarding in and of itself, so actually receiving an award was the icing on the cake,” said Sandy Speare. “I am especially grateful for the support of my Greendale Middle School colleagues, parents and students and their commitment to excellence.”

The Kohl Foundation Fellowship Program was established by U.S. Senator Herb Kohl in 1990. To date, the Foundation has awarded $7.8 million to Wisconsin educators, students and schools. Fellowship recipients were selected by a statewide committee composed of civic leaders and representatives of education-related associations. The program’s co-sponsors are: The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Council of Religious and Independent Schools, and regional Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESA).

Established in 1939, the Greendale School District is home to more than 2,600 students. The district prides itself in providing an excellent education for all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade at Greendale High School, Greendale Middle School and three elementary schools (Canterbury, College Park and Highland View).