Stone named county's top teacher

SANDPOINT - Teaching teenagers confined in juvenile detention is not for everyone, said Bonner County's Wal-Mart "Teacher of the Year."

But it is the job for Lori Stone, a Lake Pend Oreille School District teacher, who for the past six years has taught students confined to the Bonner County Juvenile Detention Center.

"This is the big wow, the big why," that she became and continues to be a teacher, Stone said during a surprise presentation held Tuesday at the detention center at which the announcement was made.

Since Stone transferred from a 17-year stint as a teacher in Clark Fork High School's resource room, she has used both the carrot and the stick to usher 45 students to earn their GEDs.

After reading five nomination letters by former students or parents of former students, Wal-Mart store manager Will Van Corbach said Stone was the "hands-down" winner. One of his store managers is a former CFHS student who was excited by her selection, he said.

"She takes the throw-away kids and tries to rehabilitate them into achieving members of society," wrote a former student. "Lori believes in people and giving them the opportunity to see the best in themselves. She helps us see our potential, helping us to make better choices and decisions."

During the presentation, Wal-Mart personnel manager Diana Ganzer and store manager Will Van Corbach presented Stone with a $100 gift card to use as she wishes, plus a $1,000 check for the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Stone has the ability to reconnect kids with learning - kids who typically do not want anything to do with school, said Debbie Stalcup, a juvenile probatio employee. She said a lot of the kids come to juvenile detention beaten down and Stone encourages them to choose a different path.

"Those letters really touch what the kids say (in juvenile detention)," Stalcup said.

As an educator there are moments when you believe you are doing the right thing and nights when you wonder if you have done as much as you can to help students, said LPOSD Superintendent Dick Cvitanich.

Feedback from students supplies the answer to those doubts, he said.

"That's the biggest payoff that can occur," Cvitanich said.

Stone is now eligible for Wal-Mart's Idaho employee of the year, which brings with it a $10,000 award and a possible shot at U.S. teacher of the year.

Several years ago, a Bonners Ferry teacher was selected by Ponderay Wal-Mart as its local teacher of the year; that teacher also was named Idaho Teacher of the Year.

"Ms. Stone believes in second chances. She has made me believe in myself and has helped me to straighten my thoughts, words and most of all , my deeds," wrote another student. "Thanks to her, I believe I can become her next second chance kid.

Stone, it seems, connects with students who need another chance.