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Mr. Lewis was my fifth grade teacher at Mountainville Academy in Alpine, Utah. I am currently a seventh grader at Timberline Junior High; but I still remember the great qualities he possesses and will always possess.
Ron Lewis was flying home on a glorious sunny day on his way back to work from a business errand he was on. He was young, healthy, and ready to get a head start in the world. Then it all went wrong. Mr. Lewis' plane crashed landed into a forest; jet fuel and passengers everywhere. His leg was broken, the bone sticking out awkwardly, and left to sit until the paramedics arrive. When they finally got him onto the stretcher, it's almost sundown. He slips off the stretcher twice, increasing his pain. When they get him into the ambulance, he takes a bumpy and long ride back to the hospital, where he spends six months recovering. He is permanently disabled; doctors telling him he would have to use a cane to walk the rest of his life.
But Mr. Lewis, instead of spending the rest of his life as a grumpy hermit, he used the situation for good. He became a fifth grade teacher, the most selfless and generous thing he could do at the time. He still tells his story and always inspires students and parents alike. Mr. Lewis deserves this award for a many number of reasons. One of these many reasons is he encourages leadership skills through a Leadership Hand Tree. This tree is made up of leadership branches, all made up by the students. He then tells the students that for any example that shows one of these leadership skills, they would write that story on a traced hand and he would hang it up on the tree. This encourages students to be leaders and try to help each other.
A second reason that Mr. Lewis would be a great recipient for this award is he sees initiative in students by letting them do experiments and projects that they invent. For example, in the 2009-2010 school year, Mr. Lewis let me achieve my ambition for making a rainforest in the school hallway. It took many, many hours of his free time and extra money for the paint, but it all paid off in the end. I was so thrilled that he actually let me complete this tedious project. The rainforest stands and will always stand as a sign of his caring toward others. The rainforest is a tradition that still goes on today and students continue to add to it.
Mr. Lewis is also the fifth grade science teacher. He has helped me develop a new love for science by teaching students to do a science journal that is neat, organized and is a tool to store scientific data in. This new found love for science has led me to the Utah state science fair twice. One of those times, I won the Humanitarian Award of excellence from BYU. He also promotes politeness in the classroom by calling each child either "Mr." or "Ms." And always excuses himself in a polite manner. He also uses a money system called "Lewies" where he rewards students for good or bad behavior, and telling the students they need to bring their own items for the class store.
Mr. Lewis is a great teacher that helps students achieve their most and bring out the greatest qualities from within. Mr. Lewis was my fifth grade teacher but I will always remember his great qualities. His actions will continue to inspire others.
--Chelsie Thackeray
