Mountain Brook Schools Names 2019-2020 Performance Award Winners

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Mountain Brook Schools has named its performance award winners for the 2019-20 academic year. Performance awards are distributed annually and are intended to spotlight professional excellence among teachers, specialists, supervisors and support staff.

Mountain Brook High School English teacher Catherine Lowe is this year’s recipient of the Ann Pritchard Award for Teaching Excellence. The award honors the memory of longtime Mountain Brook Board of Education member Ann Pritchard and represents the highest level of recognition in the MBS Professional Incentives Program. Lowe, an MBHS alumna, also sponsors the high school’s award-winning student newspaper, Sword and Shield.

“Catherine is an outstanding teacher who pours her heart and soul into what she does,” MBHS Principal Philip Holley said. “She loves her subject and her students, and it shows every day. Not only does she strive to be a better teacher each day, but she also pushes her students to achieve at higher levels.”

Crestline Elementary School guidance counselor Leah Treadwell is this year’s recipient of the Margaret Spencer Ragland Award. The honor recognizes a professional staff member for superior contributions above and beyond the call of duty and is sponsored by the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation. The award was established in memory of Margaret Spencer Ragland, a member of the MBHS Class of 1980.

“I can’t think of any aspect of this building that has not been influenced by her. Her warm personality and whimsical nature are a breath of fresh air,” Crestline Principal Christy Christian said of Treadwell. “Anything she leads, participates in, or guides is met with 110% effort. She impacts every student, family, and staff member at our school.”

Crestline third-grade teacher Carly Morgan is this year’s recipient of the Promise of Excellence Award. The award, which goes to an educator with no more than five years of teaching experience, is sponsored by former Brookwood Forest Elementary teacher Diane Waud and her family. Morgan, another MBHS alumna, just completed her second year at Crestline.

“Carly’s sweet, mature, and engaging personality illuminates any classroom,” Christian said. “She is very conscientious and intentional when designing instruction for the students she serves.”

The rest of the school system’s performance award winners are below:

• Sally White: Brookwood Forest Elementary
• Kelsey Church: Cherokee Bend Elementary
• Barbara Parker: Cherokee Bend Elementary
• Elizabeth Gwaltney: Crestline Elementary
• Claire Lampkin: Crestline Elementary
• Katherine Brown: Mountain Brook Elementary
• Cynthia Maldonado: Mountain Brook Elementary
• Heather Fitch: Mountain Brook High School
• Alessia Sartorio: Mountain Brook High School
• James Salvant: Mountain Brook Junior High

• Cece Hartley: Crestline Elementary
• Glen White: Crestline Elementary
• Libby Sims: Mountain Brook Elementary
• Stevie Taylor: Mountain Brook High School
• Dorothea Moss: Mountain Brook Junior High

• Kristi Moncrief: Brookwood Forest Elementary
• Sara Katherine Janecky: Cherokee Bend Elementary
• Michael Dudley: Mountain Brook High School
• Angela Knox: Mountain Brook High School
• Casey Lancaster: Mountain Brook Junior High
• Beth Lippeatt: Mountain Brook Junior High