Frank named VFW Montana Teacher of Year

It was a wonderful moment on Monday, February 26, at the Willow Creek School with music teacher Lucy Frank receiving the 2024 VFW Montana K-5 Teacher of the Year award.

Frank was honored at a special ceremony hosted by the VFW Ray Lau Post 7621 and is now eligible for the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher, given annually to the nation's top elementary, junior high, and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics regularly and promote America's history and traditions effectively.

Frank, who received $100 and a trophy from the VFW Department of Montana, said she was incredibly honored to receive the award, adding it brings great memories because her daughter won the same award eight years ago.

"It means a lot. I have two members of my own family who served in the Armed Forces. Ray Lau is very dear to my heart. He was my daughter's mentor in the Navy, and you cannot do enough for people in the military and what they do and what their families do," Frank said.

D.K. Brooks, with Post 7621 and a former Superintendent at Willow Creek, said last week that the local post was very excited to hear the news about Frank being selected.

He added that the teacher selection for local schools goes along with the VFW's Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy Contests.

Frank was selected as a state winner after being nominated locally and then at the district level.

Read more about the VFW Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy contests in next week's Voice.