A longtime Carlynton School District educator has been recognized by the Laurel Highlands Council of Scouting America.
Julie Lewis, a fourthgrade teacher at Carnegie Elementary, received this year’s Fretwell Outstanding Educator award.
“I was truly surprised and honored to receive the Fretwell Outstanding Educator award — I didn’t even know it existed,” Lewis said. “I see myself simply as a teacher doing my best each day to make the world around me a little better. I am fortunate to work alongside so many incredible educators who show up with that same commitment and heart, day in and day out.”
Lewis has worked in education for 18 years, all of which have been in Carlynton.
“As long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher,” Lewis said. “As a proud Carlynton graduate, I was fortunate to have incredible teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade who inspired my love of learning and my desire to help others. It is truly meaningful to now give back to the very district that gave me so much.”
The most rewarding part of Lewis’ job is helping children realize their potential, she said.
“I don’t just teach reading, English and spelling, I build confidence, I create belonging, I show them that ‘together we can’ isn’t just a motto, it’s real life,” she said. “I’m not just teaching skills, I’m helping kids become people.”
Lewis said she fostered a sense of family in her classroom, named “Team Lewis.”
“The relationships I build with my school families are what make me most proud,” she said. “When former students stop in to visit, recommend a book, say ‘hi’ while they’re at work, or when parents reach out to share big life moments — careers, college acceptances, engagements, babies — it reminds me that what we built mattered.
“Team Lewis is more than a name; it is a sense of pride. It means knowing there is always someone in your corner, cheering you on every step of the way. We can all complete assignments and do the work, but when we feel that we belong — when we know we are valued and appreciated — that is when we truly shine.”
