Carthage teachers honored with 'Tiger Pride Kindness Endowment' awards

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Four teachers in a Southwest Missouri school district receive a special award from a special teacher.

Laurel Rosenthal spent 55 years in education in Carthage - all at Mark Twain Elementary.

Wednesday, she returned there to hand out one of four "Tiger Pride Kindness Endowment" awards.

This one to 3rd grade teacher Bridget Triplett whose students are learning about patriotism and doing things for local veterans.

"We'll also do some artwork a couple of times throughout the year that I can take and drop off but they're just going to be learning throughout the whole year through the use of books that I'll be able to get through this," said Bridget Triplett, 3rd grade teacher, Mark Twain Elementary.

Three teachers at two other schools in the district received the same award for their classroom efforts to foster patriotism, respect, kindness and positivity in their students, including Hallie Sheets, a first year teacher at Columbian Elementary.

"Several like center things that I would like for my kids like educational puzzles and manipulative's that I'd like to use in my classroom for them," said Hallie Sheets, teacher, Columbian Elementary.

"They pick their project, and then we give them 250 dollars for their project, and then when they conclude their project, we give them 250 dollars specifically for them," said Laurel Rosenthal, retired teacher, principal.

This is the third year for the endowment which honors Rosenthal's contribution to the school system, even though she has no say as to the winners will be.

It's also dedicated to the memory of her good friend, the late Helen-Louise Ellif, who's daughter Lee helps give out the awards.

"At least one of our recipients has to be a Missouri Southern alum because we put the money to the Missouri Southern Foundation and it grows each year so that we can expand how many classrooms in the Carthage R-9 School District K-6 that we can affect," said Lee Elliff Pound, daughter of Helen-Louise Elliff.