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December Pursuit of Excellence Winners

Writer's picture: EricJonesEricJones


Congratulations to the December winners of the Pursuit of Excellence award, who were formally recognized at the December Board of Education Meeting.



Caroline Lacksen

5th Grade Teacher at Lakeview Academy


Ms. Lacksen has been working for the Baldwin County School District for over 2 years. She is currently working as a 5th Grade Teacher at Lakeview Academy. Ms. Lacksen was nominated by her colleague, Deaje Brown.

Ms. Brown had the following to say: “Caroline Lacksen is one of a kind. She reminds us that we aren't just teachers, we are humans too, and we should put our humanity and compassion high on our list of priorities as we go through our day. There are several teachers who come here, do their job and go home. There is nothing wrong with that but Caroline finds the time to carry her kids with her everywhere she goes. In her time at Lakeview Academy she has offered herself to be on multiple committees, she helped Mr. Respess get 13 student ambassador jackets, she has offered to lead and facilitate an anti-racist anti-bias book study and recently she has worked with Brown Parcel Press on a collaborative project with her students. They worked over several weeks talking about the importance of giving back to the community and how everyone no matter your age can make a difference. The students created an uplifting message to share with the world. They came up with the expression " You are human, you will make mistakes & that's ok!". All of the proceeds from this print is being donated to the Life Enrichment Center, an organization that supports adults with intellectual developmental disabilities. The students chose this non profit themselves. She pours her heart out to her students day in and out as a teacher. Making sure that she provides them with the highest quality education possible. However, she shows day in and day out that education is important but more important than that is making sure that every little person that walks through her door is seen, supported, validated, and loved. Whether you get; an A or a C , if you did your best you should be so proud of yourself. Every single human just by existing is deserving of all good things. I wish I had a teacher like her growing up. She is extraordinary and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”

Ms. Lacksen, thank you for being a shining example of excellence!



Julie Dupree

Media Specialist at Midway Hills Primary


Mrs. Dupree has been working for the Baldwin County School District for over 19 years and currently works as the Media Specialist at Midway Hills Primary. Mrs. Dupree was nominated by her colleague, Mandy Hopkins.

Ms. Hopkins had the following to say: “I am nominating Julie Dupree because she works so hard at our school and is involved in so many of our daily activities. She is our "go-to" for all things related to technology, and she is so helpful to both students and staff. I appreciate her willingness to gather books needed for our classroom when asked, and she always has a suggestion for a good book that our students love. Mrs. Dupree is also in charge of the yearbook and works hard to make sure all of our social media accounts are updated so that our families and the community are aware of special events. She is not just a librarian and media specialist. She is an interventionist too because she works with students that need additional support each day. As you can see, Mrs. Dupree wears many hats, but the very best thing about her is that she forms relationships with each of our students and our staff as well. I love that she knows students by name and they know that she cares about them. Midway Hills Primary is so fortunate to have Julie Dupree on our team.”

Mrs. Dupree, thank you for modeling excellence!



Carmen Lester

Special Education Teacher at Baldwin High School


Ms. Lester has worked for the Baldwin County School District for over three years. She currently works as a Special Education Teacher at Baldwin High School. Ms. Lester was nominated by her colleague, William Brunson.

Mr. Brunson had the following to say: “Ms. Lester has a genuine care for the students as learners and individuals. She is a mentor to them as well as a role model. They not only come to her for help in their academic journey but they seek advice while navigating the ins and outs of growing up through their high school years. She carries a spirit of concern for all students and makes sure they are provided for, pushed to excel, and held accountable for their learning.

Ms. Lester goes beyond the call of duty for our students and is a tremendous colleague, willing to help anyone at any time. She is a great role model for anyone.”

Ms. Lester, thank you for being a model of excellence!


Madison Sapp

4th Grade Teacher at Midway Hills Academy


Ms. Sapp is relatively new to the Baldwin County School district, working in her second school year as a 4th Grade Teacher at Midway Hills Academy and has already established herself as a model of excellence. Ms. Sapp was nominated by her colleague, Karley Lance.

Ms. Lance had the following to say: “Ms. Sapp should receive this award because she pursues excellence in everything she does for her students. To watch her in action, you would never know this is only her second year of teaching. She demonstrates daily not only a thorough understanding of the content, but she also works diligently to ensure her students achieve that same level of understanding. She creates an environment in her room that engages learners and presents content in a student-friendly way. She shows compassion and empathy, and also develops relationships with the students and their families that build trust and show a mutual respect and desire to reach a common goal: each student achieving his or her goals and beyond. She brings joy and excitement to the classroom every day, and uses that excitement to foster a love of learning in her students. She also isn't afraid to bust out some excellent dance moves at pep rallies and assemblies to get the students excited about kindness, PBIS expectations, Milestones, or any other topic that comes up. Ms. Sapp is a true asset to MHA and Baldwin County Schools, and very deserving of the Pursuit of Excellence award.

Ms. Sapp, thank you for being the epitome of excellence!

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