Lecanto High School Honors Dedicated Teacher and Staff
Dutcher Caption: Teacher of the Year, Hollie Dutcher proudly stands alongside Principal Jason Koon in a heartwarming moment of celebration and acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions to the field of education (Photo: Richard Crowley).
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Wieczorek Caption: (Photo: Lylah Ramsay).
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Harlan R. Smith, Student Writer - Hollie Dutcher, and Louisa Wieczorek are exemplary examples of ‘The Panther Way!’ at Lecanto High School [LHS] Lecanto’s motto of achieving greatness, every Panther, every day. The Panther Way is possible due to the efforts of educators like Ms. Dutcher and Ms. Wieczorek. This is why they recently received accolades as Teacher of the Year and Staff Member of the Year, respectively. Ms. Dutcher brings passion and innovation to the classroom, inspiring her students and fostering a love for learning. Ms. Wieczorek's wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to the school community set her apart as a faithful veteran staff member, always willing to lend a helping hand. Ms. Dutcher and Ms. Wieczorek embody the values of excellence and dedication, making them exceptional role models in education. Their recognitions are a testament to their outstanding contributions to the school and the students they serve.
Ms. Wieczorek's tenure at LHS is a shining example of dedication and excellence. Her extensive experience, unparalleled knowledge, and unwavering commitment to going above and beyond in her role as a staff member are displayed every day.
“Ms. Wieczorek has been at Lecanto for a long time and has a lot of job experience, position experience, and knowledge from being a veteran staff member. Her experience alone sets her far apart from everybody else. Ms. Wieczorek spends many days working extra hours. She is always willing to help in several different areas, and because she’s been here so long, she knows the job and all the different areas in the school. That is what being the staff member of the year means,” said principal Jason Koon.
“I felt honored and special to have been chosen as School Related Employee of the Year. I was out sick when I received the news, so it was uplifting,” said Wieczorek.
In the school's dynamic environment, Dutcher has swiftly become an invaluable asset alongside Wieczorek. Her dedication and proactive approach have not gone unnoticed by her colleagues and students. As the school community thrives, Ms. Dutcher's contributions and versatility shine, making her a highly regarded team member.
“[Ms. Dutcher] is relatively new to Lecanto High School, but she has greatly impacted our students and culture. She has revamped our entire yearbook staff. She has stepped up in many ways, from the AVID program to mathematics. Ms. Dutcher is the person that you can ask to do anything or any job, and she will do it extraordinarily well. She has a willingness that separates her from her peers,” said Koon.
Throughout her career, Dutcher has honed a profound teaching philosophy centered on fostering strong bonds with students as the cornerstone of academic success. This approach, characterized by unwavering support and mentorship, not only engages students more deeply with the subject matter but also ensures they receive assistance whenever needed, extending beyond the classroom. She credits her extended family at Lecanto for both supporting and modeling this approach to education.
“I focus on building strong relationships with my students because I believe that helps them succeed in and outside my classroom. My students become engaged with the material and invest in their success if I have a good relationship with them. Over the past couple of years, I have developed a program that assigns student mentors to new and possibly struggling students within my classroom. I specifically use the students who have had my class before or have proven success. These mentors help guide their mentees and teach them the so-called tricks of the trade to understand the material and succeed in my class. I also use this support method to help my students in other subject areas throughout the day. I do make it a priority that all my class material and lessons are relevant to students and do my best to try and bridge the gap between now and their futures. I push to have students identify the importance of everything they do and the value of it regarding post-high school,” said Dutcher