GIVING THANKS—The Simi Valley Education Foundation hosted the 20th Annual Lew Roth Awards Dinner on Jan. 27. Award winners, from left, were Jackie Hardie (Lifetime Achievement, Apollo High School), Harrie Meijer (Classified, Arroyo Elementary School), Diana Janke (Management, Sinaloa Middle School), Bonnie Graeve (Certificated, Royal High School) and Mary Mensinger (Special Education, Royal High School). Not pictured is Linda Zulager (Volunteer, Knolls Elementary School). More than three decades ago, Jackie Hardie, the 2012 Simi Valley Education Foundation lifetime achievement award recipient, followed her heart to Apollo High School.

“I can have a whole school of kids who don’t really believe in themselves, believe in their success in education and I can make a difference. I choose that. I chose Apollo,” Hardie said at the foundation’s 20th Annual Lew Roth Awards Dinner, held Jan. 27 at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley.

As an SVUSD trustee, Lew Roth started The Simi Valley Education Foundation in 1989.

Hardie was among six honorees at the annual gala, which featured performances by the Santa Susana High School Jazz Choir and the Santa Susana Elementary School Chorus and comments from Lew Roth’s daughter, Sue Roth; and granddaughter, Lindsay Roth.

Also recognized for their service to Simi Valley Unified School District were Diana Janke, principal of Sinaloa Middle School (management category); Bonnie Graeve, choir teacher at Royal High School (certificated); and Harrie Meijer, custodian at Arroyo Elementary (classified).

Also, Linda Zulager, volunteer at Knolls Elementary (volunteer); and Mary Mensinger, special education department chair and resource teacher at Royal High (special education).

This is Hardie’s last year at Apollo. At the ceremony, she recalled choosing to work there instead of at alma mater Chatsworth High School.

“I haven’t looked back. It’s been wonderful ever since,” she said.

Hardie’s experiences as a high school counselor have taught her that education extends beyond academics to “learning to be a good person, feeling good about yourself and being a good citizen.”

Zulager embraces a similar philosophy as a volunteer.

The retired teacher formed a student group at Knolls that boosts community morale. Projects include making lunches for the homeless, raising money for UNICEF and gathering letters for military troops.

When Zulager heard the school’s library would close because it didn’t have a librarian, she enlisted the help of volunteers from the Kiwanis Club, where she serves as a board member.

Through Knolls Night Out, which she started, local restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds to Knolls on select nights.

“She realizes how extra help and money can enable teachers to provide a safe and quality education for all students,” said board member Cathy Carlson, who presented Zulager’s award to her daughter, Kristen Rice. Zulager was unable to attend the event.

“Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, but they have the heart,” Carlson said.

Janke, who joined Sinaloa’s staff in 1980 as a P.E. teacher, is “the heart and soul” of the middle school, said board member Allan Mann, who presented her award.

She was a teacher and an assistant principal at Sinaloa before becoming principal 10 years ago.

A benefit of a long career in education is developing relationships with kids whose parents she also taught, she said.

A downside, she joked, was “not being able to name any of our five children due to interesting experiences I had with students of the same name.”

Janke, who grew up in Simi Valley, reflected on her 32-year career in education.

“Middle school kids are a tough group,” she said. “But they’re great and so full of wonder. Courage is required to be an educator, and so I am honored to work with all the courageous people on our campus.”

Graeve has also dedicated most of her life to educating kids.

She joined Royal’s staff 25 years ago and has since led the high school’s choirs to win numerous awards. And she helps raise $30,000 annually for Royal’s music program.

“I was given a passion for music at an early age and knew this would be the direction my life career would take,” she said. “It has always been my life dream to give to others what music has given to me.”

The music teacher thanked many people for their support, including her students.

“Thank you for your great love of music, teamwork and self-discipline,” she told them. “Excellence is not by accident.”

Like his fellow honorees, Meijer does more than what is asked of him.

“As a custodian, my job is to ensure a clean, safe environment for students and staff,” he said. But he readily takes on additional duties.

“I run, play soccer with the kids, read to the kids,” he said.

Mensinger said she depends on the connections she’s made at Royal.

“I’ve worked with so many outstanding educators,” she said. “In special education, you cannot be an island by yourself. It does not work.”

“I am so proud to say I am a teacher,” Mensinger said. “I believe teaching is a noble profession. It is an honor to be part of (children’s) lives.”

The Simi Valley Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to improve education in Simi Valley’s public schools. The foundation gathers community and business support to provide student scholarships, classroom and department grants and other student resources.

To learn more about the foundation or to make a donation, visit www.svef.org.