Westlake Teacher Wins Excellence In Education Award

WESTLAKE, OH — Two Westlake employees were given the Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Classified Service awards this week. The designations were decided by other staffers in the Westlake School District.

The winner of the Excellence in Teaching award was LaVonne Szafranski, a sixth-grade science teacher at Dover Intermediate School. The Excellence in Classified Service award went to Judi Spitzer, a teaching assistant at Dover Elementary School.

“I have always admired her ability to communicate and get along with others,” one colleague wrote in Szafranski's recommendation. “She is enthusiastic about her job – the kind of teacher that is thinking about students and grading papers/planning lessons at home. She is a colleague that demonstrates what educating for excellence looks like.”

Other colleagues describe a teacher that is eager to give the world to her students, a teacher that is constantly going above and beyond the call of duty. The recommendations for Szafranski paint a picture of a woman that molds personal relationships with students and their families and has a constant desire to be the best teacher possible.

Spitzer was credited with creating a welcoming environment at Dover Elementary. Colleagues described her as caring.

“Judi is kind, empathetic, responsible and hard working,” a coworker wrote in her nomination. “She takes an interest in our students and what’s going on in their lives.

In a warm coincidence, Szafranski taught both of Spitzer's children. Spitzer said the sixth grade teacher is still one of her favorite educators. The two even worked together at the former Parkside Intermediate School, where Spitzer was hired as an aide.

Spitzer and Szafranski will have their names inscribed on a plaque that will be permanently displayed at the Westlake Administration Building.

The two employees were announced as the winners of the annual awards at the Nov. 27 Westlake Board of Education meeting.

Photo from Westlake Schools

Caption: Spitzer (left) Szafranski (right)