Father Frank O'Rourke Award Nomination
Overview
The Fr. Frank O’Rourke Award for Excellence in Teaching is presented annually to an outstanding full-time teacher at St. Gabriel Catholic School in recognition of their dedication to Catholic education and exceptional impact on students. The recipient of this prestigious award will be honored at the final Mass of the school year and will receive a $10,000 award, generously funded by Tess and Herb Verbesey.
Previous Award Recipients
2017 – Mrs. Amanda McCallum
2018 – Mrs. Nikki Warren
2019 – Mrs. Marion Scherger
2020 – Mrs. Meghan Hader Olson
2021 – Mrs. Nancy Chiarelli
2022 – Mr. Daniel Bayer
2023 – Mrs. Michelle Boyle
2024 - Mrs. Donna Sparre
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the award, a teacher must:
✅ Be a full-time faculty member at St. Gabriel Catholic School for at least five consecutive years without any long-term breaks.
✅ Be in good standing with St. Gabriel Catholic School and MACS.
✅ Not have received this award in the past five years.
Teachers eligible for the 2025 award include: Hayden Call, Kelly Darling, Molly Gibbs, Christine Giroux, Terry Goebel, Addy Jean Mullis, Jean Mulligan, Anne Obeck, Meghan Olson, Lauren Pollard, Aimee Reap, Jennifer Singleton, Donna Sparre, Patty Martin, Ms. V, and Nikki Warren.
Award Criteria
A nominee should exemplify excellence in teaching by demonstrating:
✔ Positive impact on students – fosters self-esteem, self-reliance, and a love for learning.
✔ Exceptional dedication to Catholic education – integrates faith into their teaching and interactions.
✔ Commitment to St. Gabriel's mission and success – upholds the school’s values.
✔ Exemplary faith and mercy – serves as a role model for students, families, and faculty.
✔ Respect and dignity – treats students with kindness and fairness.
✔ Effective teaching practices – employs best methods for student success.
Nomination Process
📝 Who Can Nominate?
- Current parents, staff members, or 5th-grade students may submit a nomination.
- Self-nominations are not permitted.
📝 How to Nominate
- Nomination forms will be available on the St. Gabriel Catholic School website, and will be sent via email.
- Families will receive an e-blast announcement with nomination details.
- Nominations will be accepted for three weeks following Spring Break.
- Only nominations submitted during the official nomination period will be considered.
Selection Process
A selection committee will review all nominations. The committee includes:
- St. Gabriel Catholic Church Pastor
- St. Gabriel Catholic School Principal & Assistant Principal
- Last year’s award recipient
- Current PTO President
The committee will evaluate nominations based on the award criteria.
Only candidates who fully meet the criteria will be considered.
The award will be granted only if the committee reaches a unanimous decision.
Award Presentation
The recipient will be honored at the last Mass of the school year.
Nomination Form
The 2025 nomination period is Wednesday, April 16 - Friday, May 16, 2025.
Please submit this application no later than Friday, May 16, 2025.
A printable nomination is also available.
Required