2007 Huntsman Awards

The six teachers, three administrators and volunteer selected for the 2007 Huntsman Awards for Excellence in Education stand out due to their creativity, dedication and sincere love for students.

They go above and beyond what is expected and are able to reach out and have a positive effect on students in challenging circumstances where others may have failed.

For them, helping children succeed isn't just a job but something they are dedicated to both inside and outside the classroom.

And for their efforts, the educators and volunteer will be honored at a Friday banquet at the Little America Hotel and receive a crystal trophy and a $10,000 check. The honorees were selected by a panel of distinguished education and business leaders in elementary, middle and high school.

"We are honored again this year to recognize the selfless commitment to Utah's youth that is characteristic of each of the 2007 award recipients," said Jon Huntsman Sr., whose family sponsors the awards. "It is impossible to place a dollar value on the services that educators provide to our communities throughout the state. Nevertheless, the Huntsman awards symbolize our family's gratitude to the profession in general."

The following profiles are derived from the winners' nomination letters.

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Janine Smith

Parkview Elementary

Janine Smith, principal of Parkview Elementary in Salt Lake City, is not afraid of a challenge.

Parkview is a Title I school with a high poverty rate, and half the students come from homes where languages other than English are spoken. It is considered one of the most highly impacted schools in Utah.

She has been relentless in her efforts to narrow the achievement gap in the inner-city school and has maintained a deep commitment to helping children overcome what are often daunting challenges at home and outside of school that only a good education can change over time.

When Smith first came to the school nine years ago, she was a brand-new principal, but she came with a vision. She was able to direct the school in the right direction with grants and programs, and now Parkview is looked at throughout the district as a leader in school reform.

Her energy is contagious and creates a workplace where finding the positive is just the way it's done, nominators said.