Lawrence Lawson and Cataract Principal named MWRC Administrator of the Year

Lawrence Lawson teacher Beth Miller,
Administrator of the Year Missy Herek, and
MWRC Board Member Laura Veglahn

A Sparta Area School District principal received the Midwest Reading Council’s Administrator of the Year award Sept. 13 at its fall conference.

Melissa Herek, principal of Lawrence-Lawson and Cataract elementary schools, was nominated by Midwest Reading Council Board Member Laura Veglahn. In accepting her award, Herek credited her staff for doing the hard work necessary to become literacy leaders. 

"Ms. Herek is a good example of the exceptional leaders that we have working to improve student achievement in the Sparta Area School District," Superintendent John Hendricks said.

"We understand the importance of promoting and developing our students' reading skills. She is an inspiration for students and staff, and we are proud of her accomplishments," Hendricks said. 

Veglahn described Herek as a “hungry reader who embeds literature in her school-wide initiatives and works with staff to assure that all learners have the chance to feel what it like to build a home library.

Herek has an extensive professional library she loans to peers, staff and other district leaders and keeps a collection of children’s literature at a level where children can access Newberry authors, colorful engaging picture books and motivating literature, Veglahn said.

“This passion-driven leader has the background knowledge, foundational experiences and purposefully chooses to attach her staff to the essentials in literacy. She demonstrates that by providing support for professional development … She encourages her staff and gives them the supports to learn new methods, study in more than just conversation in the hallway, and then even opens the door for creative implementation of those new methods,” Veglahn said.

Herek is the second Sparta Area School District administrator to receive the recognition in recent years. Former Meadowview Intermediate School Principal Paul Fischer also was recognized.