Heather Bell
RADFORD – Skip Lawton, Radford High School’s Building Trades teacher, is known for being a great hands-on instructor to his students, and always being there for his co-workers.
Skip Lawton (left), Radford High School’s Building Trades teacher, receives an award from Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham as Employee of the Month during Tuesday’s school board meeting.
That giving spirit was recognized by the Radford City School Board and school administrators Tuesday as Lawton was named Employee of the Month through the school system’s Employee Recognition program.
Nominations are made anonymously by parents and community members. Lawton’s nominations were filled with glowing recommendations, both of his teaching and his personality.
“He is always going above and beyond for the staff and the kids,” reads one nomination. “Skip has made several things for the retiring staff in the school. He is the guy who you go to when something is wrong within the school and is always willing to help out.”
“Skip is able to get the most out of some of the most challenging students,” it continues. “He is the ultimate team player in Radford High School.”
A parent who has two students who went through Lawton’s curriculum, says Lawton made a big difference in their lives.
“It’s hard to even put into words what Mr. Lawton has instilled in both my sons,” the nomination reads. “ My oldest son graduated last year and has said, ‘The only teacher I’ve been back to visit is Mr. Lawton because he has mentored me throughout high school’.”
“My youngest son is a senior and as he is about to finish his high school career, I think of how ‘Lawton’ has come up at our dinner table so many nights,” it continues. “When he got ‘senioritis’ in a real bad way this spring, it was Mr. Lawton who took the time out of his day to call me at work and say, ‘What’s going on, what can I do to help him? He’s such a great young man with a work ethic I haven’t seen in a very long time’.”
“I sure needed to be reminded this in all my frustration,” the nomination description continued. “I also can’t help but mention how when he was just a sophomore, Mr. Lawton guided him through a huge project of building a loading desk. He exemplified what it means to invest, work hard, and then enjoy. With the help of Mr. McPeak delivering this oversize load, he was able to earn $500. This teacher not only instills instruction of building trades, but also life skills, which is just as important as education. I just want to shout out thank you, because my boys are better men because of Skip Lawton.”
In presenting Lawton with his award, Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham echoed the sentiments in the nomination letters. RCPS recognizes one or more employees each month during the school year for the Employee Recognition program.
