For the past 20 years, Mary Lou Wentzel has been teaching English and Public Speaking at Bishop O'Connell High School. In addition to her daily classroom work, she has made the time to encourage and mentor countless students in all grades to be successful participants in speech and essay contests held at the school and in the community.
On May 24, Dr. Douthard R. Butler and Mr. Stephen Toth, representing the Alexandria Sunrise Optimist Club, surprised Mrs. Wentzel at a school gathering and recognized her efforts with these students over the years. On behalf of the Optimist Club, they honored Mrs. Wentzel as the 2013 Teacher of the Year, and presented her with a special plaque, which read:
Alexandria Sunrise Optimist Club presents Teacher of the Year 2013 to Mary Lou Wentzel, Bishop O'Connell High School, for providing hope and positive vision to the youth in our community. You bring out the best in kids in an educational environment.
Pictured below: Stephen Toth, Principal Joe Vorbach, Mary Lou Wentzel and Douthard Butler.
