Farmer Elementary Teacher Wins ExCEL Award

Rusty Weihe, a second-grade teacher at Farmer Elementary School, has been awarded the Excellence in Classroom and Educational Leadership (ExCEL) Award. Representatives from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and from the award sponsors — LG&E and KU and WHAS11 — honored the teacher during a ceremony at the school last week.

“Students in Mr. Weihe’s class are challenged with rigorous and engaging lessons from the minute they walk through the doors to the time they leave,” Farmer Principal Shannon Conlon said. “No instructional time during the day is lost due to his level of preparedness each and every day.”

Weihe is a strong advocate for his school, serving on numerous teams, including the Instructional Leadership Team, Professional Learning Community, Site-Based Decision Making Council and Response to Intervention team. He is also a member of the Parent-Teacher Association, and serves as the school leader for the Orton-Gillingham reading program as well as a University of Louisville mentor.

“Mr. Weihe makes it his mission to reach all students where they are academically,” said Nicholas Toole, assistant principal at Farmer. “He possesses the grit and perseverance to get the students to complete the year on grade level. He is a true leader among his colleagues and one that they turn to when they have questions about instruction or specific student concerns.”

His colleagues echo that sentiment.

“Rusty holds high expectations for all learners and establishes an environment where all children know they are valuable and capable,” said second-grade teacher Sarah Switzer. “He is committed to teaching each child as an individual.”

As part of LG&E and KU’s commitment to supporting education across the communities it serves, Weihe and other ExCEL Award winning teachers each receive a $1,000 instructional grant from the company.