Rotary recognizes ‘Service Above Self’

Waupaca teacher receives award

at the close of each school year the Waupaca Rotary Club recognizes a Waupaca School District teacher or staff member with its Service Above Self Award.

The award recognizes community service that extends beyond job responsibilities.

Award winners receive a $500, including $250 they can keep, and another $250 they can designate to a charity of their choice.

This year’s winner was Sue Harrington who recently retired from the Waupaca School District.

During her 37-year career, Harrington taught kindergarten through third grade and served as team leader for the third grade for the last 10 years.

Though she did not have a degree in special education, Harrington was drawn to work with children with disabilities in her classroom.

“This provided me with many opportunities to teach the importance of acceptance and inclusion,” she said. “I taught a lot of kids to read, write, and to do math, but I believe my greatest contribution was teaching children to accept and include one another, celebrating their differences.”

Harrington finds ample opportunities for service outside the classroom. She has been involved in the Waupaca International Cultural Exchange Committee for two decades during which time she hosted, traveled and coordinated travels to Waupaca’s sister city, Mitoyo City, Japan.

WICEC is the charity she has chosen to receive the $250 donation.

Harrington and her family have also been involved with the Waupaca Rotary Youth Exchange program, hosting multiple exchange students over the years. Further, she is a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she has served in a range of capacities.

A co-worker describes Harrington as “a teacher who teaches the whole child. She treats every child as if they were her own. Not only wanting them to learn academics, but to be kind, productive human beings in life. She loves her students from day one and the students know she loves them. They love her too. She looks for the best in everyone.”

To learn more, find Rotary of Waupaca on Facebook.