Linda Drake, journalism and Spanish teacher at Chase County High School, walked into the school’s auditorium Friday morning prepared to salute students for academic achievements. Instead, she was surprised with a national award.
Members of the national Journalism Education Association were on hand to present Drake with the Yearbook Advisor of the Year award.
Only one award is given out nationwide each year and this is the first time the award has been given to a small rural school.
Drake has applied for the award for several years. She’d never won and didn’t expect to this year.
“I’m in shock,” she told the assembled students, faculty and guests — including her family. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. It just goes to show you that small schools can do just as much as big schools.”
The assembly started promptly at 10 o’clock. Students filed in thinking the assembly was solely for student recognition. Ninety-one of 147 students were recognized as having a 3.0 or better GPA.
After that, it became Drake’s moment in the spotlight. Representatives from the JEA, who had been hiding in the hall, filed in and it then became apparent to Drake what was happening. Several people from around Kansas and from around the country also filed in and filled up the two front rows of the school’s auditorium.
Linda Puntney and H.L. Hall of the JEA presented Drake with her award.
“It’s just a real treat to give to someone who is doing such a fantastic job at a rural school,” Hall said.
Puntney also spoke during the presentation.
“It’s so wonderful to be able to recognize your school and Linda (Drake),” she said.
Puntney said Drake proved that small schools can do large projects and stand out among the larger schools.
“At Chase County High School you do it,” she said.
Drake teaches several journalism courses, sponsors clubs at the school and teaches Spanish.
“This is a woman who can do it all,” Puntney said.
Drake’s work doesn’t stop with the students at her school. She travels across the state helping new journalism teachers and has won many awards for her dedication and excellence.
“The thing about Mrs. Drake is that she’s still Mrs. Drake,” Puntney said. “She’s the Alpha and the Omega of the journalism department here.”
And the yearbooks at the high school are a hit. Out of the student body of more than 140 students, 106 yearbooks are sold.
“Everything she does is motivated by you —the students at Chase County High School,” Puntney said. “I hope you understand what a big deal this is and how lucky you are to have her in your midst.”
Drake built the journalism program from the ground up, Puntney added. Drake started out with a handful of students and little technology.
Drake started out as a student teacher at the school 37 years ago and never left. She’s been the yearbook advisor for 28 years. Before she got into journalism, she taught math and Spanish.
When it was Drake’s turn to speak, she was still wiping tears from her eyes as she clutched her award and a large bouquet of flowers.
“I’m sorry, I have no idea what to say,” she said. “I knew this was a strange assembly. I had not the slightest idea. I thought someone else had won the award.
“I’m in shock,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. It just goes to show you that small schools can do just as much as big schools.”
Drake said this isn’t something that happens to smaller schools often.
“I think it’s important for people to understand that small schools can do big projects,” she said.
ChaseCountyChick (anonymous) says...
Congratulations Mrs. Drake, you deserve it! :)
Muchas Bueno
January 17, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rcakmon (anonymous) says...
Congrats, Linda. What a nice honor for you and your
students!
Perhaps Linda should have edited this article before publication! She’d never ONE and didn’t expect to this year?
January 17, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
birch (anonymous) says...
Congratulations on an award well deserved. It's nice to see that small schools have great things happening in them. It's especially nice to see awards given out for education, not just athletics.
January 17, 2009 at 8:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
I think it is sad that she had to nominate herself for the award. Just goes to show that those among who do the best job we possibly can are usually the last to receive recongintion from our peers. Congratualtions Ms. Drake.
January 18, 2009 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
As a former student of Linda's I must say it is well deserved and long past due.
Congratualations and thanks for realizing the potential I had. Even if I didnt realize it myself.
I still feel REALLY bad about that special roll of film I ruined in the darkroom.
January 18, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lildarling (anonymous) says...
Good catch rcakmon! I was thinking the same thing. I also enjoyed the first sentence:
Linda Drake, journalism and Spanish at Chase County High School, walked into the school’s auditorium Friday morning prepared to salute students for academic achievements.
Linda Drake has been a tremendous asset to the journalism and Spanish departments at Chase County High School, but I think she is the teacher, not the entire department.
January 19, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )