Owensboro High School theatre teacher Carolyn Greer was surprised Monday morning with the Western Kentucky University Distinguished Educator Award for her work in Visual and Performing Arts.
Greer knew she was a finalist for the award but didn’t believe she would win.
“I’m shocked. I’m truly honored and overwhelmed. This [award] is not why I do what I do. I do it for all of those kids that were on the stage just a few minutes ago, but it’s truly kind,” she said.
The awards are designed to celebrate current Pre-K through 12th grade educators in WKU’s service region who are making significant contributions to the teaching profession.
Greer was nominated by Owensboro Public Schools Director of Fine Arts Tom Stites for her 31+ years of teaching. Greer noted that she has a few years left before she’s eligible to retire, and to receive the honor now is something she genuinely was not expecting.
“I was thrilled to be in the top three, I thought that was just lovely and very kind, but to have been this far in my career and to receive this recognition is just truly an honor. It’s something I would never have expected,” she said.
As part of the nomination process, Greer’s colleagues spoke to her excellence as an educator. Stites, Former OHS Principal Anita Burnette, and playwright and friend Lindsay Price all commented on the Greer’s effectiveness.
“I can’t tell you the number of students that have scholarships in the arts because of Carolyn Greer and her work,” Burnette said. “Our program is one of the best in the state, if not the best in the state, and I’m proud to say that because of her and the quality of teaching that she brings to the program and to those children.”
