Rawlings Foundation honors four in education
By Lisa Coffey Mahoney

Contra Costa Times, San Francisco
April 22 2005

STAFF WRITER

“Inspirational.” “Dedicated.” “Creative.” “Remarkable.”

School board President Ronnie Caplane used these words to describe
the 2005 Lois Blair Rawlings Educational Inspiration Award winners.

They are Piedmont Middle School Principal Carol King, Piedmont Middle
School teacher Debby Sorenson, Wildwood Elementary School kindergarten
teacher Andrea Weidkamp, and Mandarin language federal grant program
director Linda Lei.

“These people, by their work and example, are inspirational to
students,” said Caplane, who is a member of the Lois Blair Rawlings
Foundation Board.

Caplane said she and other Rawlings Foundation Board members sifted
through more than 50 nominations, “which speaks volumes about our
schools that there are that many people that other people felt worthy
of the award.”

Nominations were received from school administrators, teachers,
parents and students, Caplane said.

Rawlings’ son, Ken, created the awards to honor his mother, a teacher
in the Oakland School District for many years.

Established in 2000, the awards were designed to recognize individuals
in the Piedmont education community who have demonstrated exceptional
ability to inspire, motivate and encourage the youth of the city in
their education, character development and personal growth.

This includes, but is not limited to, the faculty and staff at each
Piedmont school, administrators, coaches and Recreation Department
employees.

A teacher at the middle school since 1981, Sorenson said she was
“completely shocked and surprised” to learn she had been selected as
a Rawlings Award winner.

“It’s pretty overwhelming,” she said. “Getting singled out and rewarded
for something I love doing is amazing.”

Sorenson teaches eighth-grade history and English.

Sorenson’s former and current students were excited to hear she is
being recognized.

Rachel Zimmerman, 27, a graduate of Piedmont High School in 1995,
still feels Sorenson’s influence.

“Junior high school is not easy. Debby Sorenson got me through it,”
said Zimmerman, now a Hollywood producer. “I often think of her.
She’s always had a special place in my heart.”

Sorenson turned eighth-grader Paul Strauch into a history lover.

“I was never too interested in history, and now it’s my favorite
class,” he said. “She really puts a lot of energy into the class, so
you really want to give her answers and be a part of the conversation.”

Strauch, of Armenian descent, was particularly impressed that Sorenson
took him up on his suggestion that she attend a local conference
about Armenian genocide.

“She went and was eager to learn something new and will be putting
(information about the topic) in her curriculum next year,” he said.

Lei was also shocked to learn she had been selected as a Rawlings
Award winner.

“It’s a great honor. I’m really speechless,” she said.

During the years her daughter Adrienne attended Piedmont schools,
Lei volunteered for various positions on parent club boards and served
on boards for support organizations like Dress Best For Less, PAINTS
(Promote Art in the Schools), and the Piedmont Educational Foundation.

Lei also has served on the Piedmont Asian American Club board.

Lei has also taught Mandarin at Piedmont Middle School.

Two years ago, on behalf of the Piedmont school district, Lei
spearheaded the effort to secure a three-year federal Mandarin language
grant worth nearly $300,000.

“The goal of the grant is to improve and expand the curriculum,”
Lei said. “And we will produce a model K-12 curriculum for other
schools to duplicate.”

Mandarin is taught at the middle and high schools and is part of
the Piedmont Language School’s after-school enrichment program for
younger students, Lei said.

Each Rawlings Award recipient receives $5,000, half of which will be
donated on the recipient’s behalf to a nonprofit of their choosing
that has been approved by the Lois Blair Rawlings Foundation Board.

A special ceremony honoring the award winners is scheduled for May
6 at Ken Rawlings’ Piedmont home.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress