Elementary school teacher Katie Monahan has been honored by the Education Department at Cedar Crest College with the Howard L. Klopp Exemplary Teacher Award. Cedar Crest faculty members surprised Monahan, who teaches fifth grade at Union Terrace Elementary School, with the award on Wednesday, November 16.
Monahan has worked in the Allentown School District since 2007, teaching students in grades three, four, five, and eight. She was nominated for her deep commitment to her school and her community.
“Katie has a positive role in the lives of her students who have diverse socio-economic backgrounds,” says her nominator. “[She] works relentlessly to help students reach their full potential.”
Her contributions include grant writing, procuring needed supplies and equipment, and hand-delivering extra learning materials to her students during the challenging transition to online learning. Monahan is also involved in student development beyond the classroom, serving as a coach for athletics and extracurriculars, including basketball, field hockey, ski club, and the chess team.
The Exemplary Teacher Award is named for Howard L. Klopp, a former education professor and chair of the Education Department at Cedar Crest. The annual award recognizes the outstanding teaching that is taking place in elementary, middle, and secondary schools in Lehigh and Northampton counties. School administrators, teachers, students, and parents are encouraged to nominate an outstanding teacher who represents excellence in the teaching profession.