Knowledge Center Awards
Distinguished Educator Award for Excellence in Core Knowledge Teaching
The National Core Knowledge Coordinator of West Texas in cooperation with the Lubbock Christian University Education Department developed the Distinguished Educator Award For Excellence in Core Knowledge Teaching.  K-8 Schools in the Lubbock area implementing the Core Knowledge Sequence were eligible to nominate one deserving teacher.  The award recognizes and honors outstanding teachers who have made exceptional efforts to prepare and present Core Knowledge units to students. 
   
2005-2006 Winners Candace Tickle (Waters Elementary School) and Vickie Cooper (O. L. Slaton JHS) were selected as co-recipients of the award for 2005-06.  They were recognized at a banquet held on the campus of Lubbock Christian University and at the Core Knowledge National Conference in San Antonio, Texas.  Nominated finalists included: Holly Jo Camp (Roscoe Wilson), Debbie Galey (Iles), Brian Gollihugh (Christ The King), Phyllis Powell (Lubbock Christian), Krissi Samuels (Rush) and Shay Troutman (Murfee).
 
2004-05 Winner Sharon Terry (Lubbock Christian School) was selected from among the eleven finalists.  She was recognized at the Core Knowledge West Texas Conference and at the Core Knowledge National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Nominated finalists included Odelia Alaniz (Waters), Michele Cook (O. L. Slaton), Alma Cunningtubby (Iles), Stacey Levin (Rush), Karla Lewis (Honey), Dee Ann Margrave (Roscoe Wilson), Marion Rodriguez (Wheatley), Amy Thomas (Hutchinson), and Patricia Waddoups (Christ the King).
 
2003-04 Winner
 Brenda Parker (O. L. Slaton Junior High School), an art teacher, was selected from among the thirteen finalists.  She was recognized at the Core Knowledge West Texas Conference and at the Core Knowledge National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Nominated finalists included Leah Cruse (Iles), Doug Hogan (Wheelock), DeLila Holder (Waters), Katie Huey (Christ the King), Mya Mercer (Wheatley), Elizabeth parks (Hutchinson), Shelly Reid (Roscoe Wilson), Carrie Scott (Bean), Amy Stephens, (Murfee), Helen Thorpe (Rush), Renee Turney (St. Joseph), and Mary Wilbur (Brown).    
 
  
2002-03 Winners Pam McPherson (Murfee Elementary School) and Sherry Wagner (Dupre Elementary School), both intermediate teachers, were selected as co-recipients.  They were honored at the Core Knowledge West Texas Conference and at the Core Knowledge National Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.  Nominated finalists included Lisa Brewer (Brown), Lynne Brown (St. Joseph), Kathi Elmore (O. L. Slaton), Linda Grusing (Roscoe Wilson), Amy Hill (Lubbock Christian), Pam Johnson (Rush), Shawna Prestridge (Wheelock), and Staci Sumners (Bean).