The Lewis Award Committee is pleased to announce the following as Finalists for the 2016–2017 Monsignor Gerald L. Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching:
- Mark DeLaRosa, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh
- Carolyn Moser, The Franciscan School, Raleigh
- Patti Wagner, St. Thomas More Catholic School, Chapel Hill
The selection of this year’s Recipient will follow onsite classroom visitations and interviews by the Committee during the month of February. Congratulations to the Finalists!
Mark DeLaRosa has taught in the Diocese for 14 years and Theology at Cardinal Gibbons High School for the past 11 years. He is a certified Master Catechist in the Diocese of Raleigh. In the classroom Mr. DeLaRosa believes the best way to teach about faith is in community. He strives to create a community environment where students can “experience the Lord, the Church, each other and themselves”.
Among his many involvements Mr. DeLaRosa is a Holocaust Educator Network Facilitator Fellow, Faculty Mentor, Volunteer for Special Olympics, and Presenter for Adult Scripture Courses at Our Lady of Lourdes.
Carolyn Moser, with 41 years of teaching experience, has taught Eighth Grade Science at the Franciscan School for the past 11 years. Ms. Moser describes teaching “as a lifelong journey. Effective teachers must be passionate and continue to grow and develop. Caring deeply about the children I teach and wanting to guide them to new levels of success drives me to continue to grow professionally, spiritually and personally as a teacher”.
Ms. Moser is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent Science, a Kenan Fellow at NCSU and received a Fulbright Fellowship to Japan. Multiple years she was a session presenter both at the NC Science Teacher Conference and the National Middle School Conference.
Patti Wagner, with 29 years of teaching experience, has taught Second Grade at St. Thomas More Catholic School for the past 10 years. Ms. Wagner focuses on differentiated learning in her classroom. She “believes that integrating all subjects easily lends itself to differentiated lessons, which allows every child to succeed. It is my goal to make every child feel special and valued in my eyes and in God’s love.”
Ms. Wagner’s activities include: Coordinates middle school service projects; Organizer for ‘Walk for Africa’ to raise funds for hunger relief; Presenter at the annual Diocesan Schools Conference; Founder and driver for ‘Appalachian Shoebox Christmas’ that provides gifts for needy children in Appalachia; member of School Advisory Board.