Garwood teacher chosen Champion of Month
Lucky for Cindy Clabby’s hairdresser, awards run in the Clabby family.
The woman who cut the Garwood Elementary School fourth-grade teacher’s hair last week is friends with someone at Numerica Credit Union, someone who spilled the beans to her early about Clabby being chosen as Numerica’s School Champion of the Month.
The woman forgot Clabby wouldn’t receive the award until Feb. 7 and congratulated her during a haircut a few days prior.
But because Clabby’s husband, Mike, had been honored a few months earlier as the Idaho Teacher of the Year by the state Department of Education, the woman was able to save the surprise.
“I go, ‘What award?’ and she goes, ‘Oh, Mike’s award,’ ” Clabby said. “I didn’t think anything of it. She covered very well.”
Clabby realized what her hairdresser really meant a couple days later, when she was honored during a surprise, all-school assembly at Garwood.
Clabby was nominated for the award by 10-year-old Madison Wirth.
“Her love for reading encourages us to read more,” Wirth wrote in her nominating essay. “She’s my favorite teacher and always will be.”
Wrote Madison’s mother, Melanie Wirth: “I completely agree with my daughter Madison. I help out in her classroom, and Mrs. Clabby is just as fabulous now as she was when she was my fourth-grade teacher.”
Clabby has taught in North Idaho schools for nearly 30 years.
As is standard procedure at all School Champion of the Month assemblies, Jody Azevedo of Numerica gave a series of hints to try to get the kids to guess the winner.
The first hint, that the winner hails from Kellogg, got Clabby’s attention. After the second hint – that the winner loves being a grandmother – “I was like, hey this is sounding familiar,” she said.
The next two hints, that the winner loved to read and to ride on the back of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, sealed it, she said.
“This is a great staff. This could go to anyone of these (staffers),” Clabby told the crowd after receiving the award.
Mike Clabby was able to take a break from his job teaching multimedia at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene to attend the assembly with his son.
“We’re just really proud of her,” he said. “I think she’s a phenomenal teacher. She works so hard.”
“I don’t really know what to say,” Cindy Clabby said after the assembly. “Madison is just such a sweetheart.”
Madison received $25 for the winning essay, along with two passes to Silverwood Theme Park. She’ll also be entered into a drawing for a free iPod. Clabby received a $45 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse, a gift bag, a recognition plaque, and two passes to Silverwood. Garwood Elementary will receive $100, to be used how Clabby see fit.
The School Champion of the Month is chosen every month through May. Students can nominate their favorite employee from any North Idaho school. Nominations consist of a written essay explaining why the employee deserves recognition. Forms are available at any school office or online at www.numericacu.com.
Upcoming fundraiser
The Post Falls Education Foundation is gearing up for its annual fundraiser, the Wine, Stein and Dine banquet, on March 3 from 7 until 10 p.m. at the Greyhound Park and Events Center in Post Falls.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fundraising for Post Falls public schools. More than $195,000 in grants have been awarded to classroom teachers in the past 10 years.
More than 85 wineries, microbreweries and restaurants will be represented at this year’s event. There will be professional judging for the best drinks and eats, as well as a silent auction, a raffle and live entertainment.
Tickets are $45 in advance or, if available, $60 at the door. The price includes food and drink well as a complimentary wine glass or beer stein.
Tickets are available at Idaho Washington Trust Banks, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, Super 1 Foods in Post Falls, Connected Northwest Insurance, and Spokane’s Vino! A Wine Shop. For more information on the event, call Debra Slaney at 777-4313 or Jack Sjostrom at 777-1252, ext. 3.