Fifth-grade teacher honored

Prairie View Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Laura Dougall was named a First Class School Champion at a recent surprise ceremony at the school.

Sponsored by Numerica Credit Union, the award recognizes a different outstanding school employee every month until May.

Fifth-grader Whitney Rud nominated Dougall because of her hard work and talent for teaching.

“She is nice, funny, and understands when you make a mistake,” Rud wrote in her nomination essay. “Another reason is because she does an … amazing job at teaching.”

Besides a love for teaching, Dougall, who has worked for the Post Falls School District since 1990, has a love of traveling. Her summers have been spent in Scotland, Spain, England and Germany, and she returns with many exciting stories and new cultures to share with her students.

Utilizing technology in the classroom has is important to Dougall, who was one of the first in the district to set up a computer lab in her classroom and was instrumental in setting up Prairie View’s current lab.

Radio host Dick Haugen from 1080 KVNI was the emcee for the award presentation, with entertainment provided by Garfield from Silverwood Theme Park. Dougall received $100 to be used at the school or in her department, along with a plaque, gift bag, and a $45 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse. For her effort Rud received $25, a bag of goodies and two Silverwood passes and was entered into a drawing for an Apple iPod, along with all other students who submitted a nomination essay.

Nomination forms can be found at the school offices or online at www.numericacu.com.